It seems that every organization or community has some rites of passage. Last Saturday I attended a baptism. Friends of the parents were there together with us, relatives. A party followed and as usual, it was flowing with food and drinks. Baptism among many Christian religions marks the acceptance of the person into the community of believers. Each step of the ritual has some significance and it is designed to remind everyone present of the beliefs that they are supposed to foster. In the Bible, Christ was circumcised which is the mark of a Jew.
In college, I underwent a rite of passage into a fraternity - an initiation. We were made to endure so many things including waking up so early in the morning to buy a bouquet of roses to be delivered to a master's girlfriend, or being asked to do something humiliating in front of other students. Besides the physical endurance thing, of course. Wearing a tie everyday during initiation was embarassing enough, but to be asked to sing in a radio program (complete with a rose for the lady announcer and the usual necktie) or to serenade a group of ladies in school or in the dorm is even more humbling. And then being branded like cattle was the final humiliation. But that was the price for entry and thinking about it now, was worth it.
I believe everyone pass through some form of rite of passage to be accepted in a group. Sometimes, without our consent, we were forced to go through them because everyone is expected to go through it. Just like Filipino boys. Almost everyone goes through circumcision before puberty. Being uncircumcised in the Philippines can be very embarassing.
There are other rituals. Like saying the Angelus at noon and at 6pm which is done even in SM malls. Or younger people greeting older ones by taking the elder's hand and bringing it to his forehead. Not as popular is the return gesture by the elder - making the sign of the cross on the younger's forehead. I remember my older relatives doing it. I hardly do it myself but thinking about it now, why not? It is a sign of reciprocity - the younger asking for blessing and the older giving it.
I just wonder what rite of passage does my photography group of friends have to go through? For now I guess, we have our signature pose. Hahaha.
