4 Read the text again. Make notes under the following headings. Speak about rites of passage using your notes
ceremonial event, milestones, initiation, first coined the phrase, elements, status, classification, overlap, childbirth, coming-of-age, death |
Reading and speaking
1 Study the infographics about major rites in some religions. Describe what you can see. What are the religions? What life events are the rites connected with? Speak about a life path of a person who professes one of these religions.
2 Split into groups. Each group read a text about birth rites in six different religions. Then mingle share the information with each other. Text a. Sikh baby rites
Sikhs follow the instructions for all ceremonies (birth, naming and marriage) as set out in the Sikh Rahit Maryada (Sikh code of conduct) and by following the holy book the Guru Granth Sahib.
Prayer is the first action of Sikh women when they find out that they are pregnant. When the baby is born, the words of the Mool Mantar (a key prayer, composed by Guru Nanak) are whispered into the ears of the child and a drop of honey is placed inside the mouth.
It is also customary to visit the temple as soon as it is physically possible after giving birth, this is usually within forty days of the birth of the child.
Once inside the Gurdwara the Guru Granth Sahib is randomly opened by the Granthi (priest) and a passage is read out aloud. The family will then choose a name by using the first letter of the hymn on the page opened. The baby's name is announced to the congregation, the Granthi will also add Singh (lion) as a surname if the baby is a boy, and Kaur (princess) if the child is a girl.
The Anand Sahib or 'Happiness hymn' is sung. A prayer of thanks for the naming ceremony is made. To celebrate, Karah Parshad, a sweet dish made from flour, semolina, butter and sugar, is distributed amongst the congregation.
The naming ceremony confirms that the baby belongs to God and will live in God's presence forever. The child's life is centred round the Gurdwara and the Sikh community. The community will support and protect the child as he or she grows up and gets to know more about the religion and how to put the religion into practice during their life.
Text B. Buddhism birth rites
There is no general birth rite or obligations across the Buddhist world. Practices vary from one country and culture to another.
In Sri Lanka and other Theravada countries, when a baby is born, monks might be invited to the house where they prepare a horoscope for the baby based on the time of birth. From the details of the horoscope, they decide the first name of the baby.
Within a month of the birth, the parents take the baby to the local temple and put him or her in front of the statue of the Buddha. They ask for the blessings of the Three Refuges - the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
The parents make an offering to the temple in thanksgiving for the child.
Practices of different Buddhist traditions
Some Buddhists, for example in Thailand, tie sacred threads around the baby's wrists to greet the spirit 'Khwan' who looks after babies. When the baby is a month old, a monk may shave the baby's hair.
In Tibet when a baby is born the parents put flags on the roof of their house, and after a few days friends and relatives gather at the house bringing gifts of food and clothes. A monk will visit and a naming ceremony will take place after about a ten days. The baby does not leave the home for the first month, when it may be taken to the local monastery.
In Japan, a few days after birth the baby's room is purified. As in Tibet there is a naming ceremony at home about one week after the birth, and on the child's first visit to the temple the parents are presented with a scroll for recording the child's life events.
When the parents present the child in the temple, they are introducing the new child to the Buddha, and showing that they want their child to grow up understanding the Buddhist tradition and the Four Noble Truths - and to be able to put the Noble Eightfold Path into practice.
Text C. Hindu baby rites
Hindu rituals (sanskars) begin before a child is born.
Hindus believe that it is the responsibility of each individual to continue the Hindu race and therefore soon after a couple are married, a prayer called Garbhadana (conception) is recited for fulfillment of one's parental obligations.
During the third month of pregnancy the ceremony of Punsavana (foetus protection) is performed. This is done for the strong physical growth of the foetus.
The Simantonnyana is performed during the seventh month. This is the equivalent of a baby shower and means 'satisfying the craving of the pregnant mother'. Prayers are offered for the mother and child with emphasis on healthy mental development of the unborn child. Hindus believe that mental state of a pregnant woman affects the unborn child.
Once the child enters the world, Jatakarma is performed to welcome the child into the family, by putting some honey in the child's mouth and whispering the name of God in the child's ear.
Other rituals include a naming ceremony (Namakarna), the Nishkarmana (the child's first trip out) and the Annaprasana, (the child's first taste of solid food).
The ear-piercing ceremony (Karnavedha) and first haircut (Mundan) ceremonies are also considered highly significant. These sacraments are performed on both the sexes. Hindus believe that the piercing of a hole in the lower lobes of the ear have benefits of acupuncture.
Head shaving is connected to the removal of impurities.
When the child reaches school-going age, the Upanayana (sacred thread) ceremony is performed. The three strands of the sacred thread represent the three vows (to respect the knowledge, the parents and the society) taken before the start of formal education.
Although Hindu scriptures explain the rituals, it is possible that Hindu rituals and rites will differ according to particular castes and regions.
Text D. Islam birth rites
At the moment of birth, many Muslims speak the words of the Adhan (the call to prayer) in the ear of the baby so that the call to serve Allah is present from the start of the child's life.
Aqiqah ceremony
On the seventh day after birth, the child's head is shaved. This is called Aqiqah and is performed as part of the naming ceremony. The baby is often named after one of the prophets or one of the great men or women of early Islam, though it is common for boys' names to follow the pattern 'servant of' plus one of the ninety-nine names of Allah, eg 'Abd Allah or 'Abd al-Rahman. Many Muslims view Aqiqah as desirable, but some see it as compulsory.
At the Aqiqah ceremony the parents give thanks to Allah for the gift of the baby. The shaving of the head symbolises the cleansing of the baby from impurities and the start of its life afresh in the presence of Allah.
The baby is given a taste of honey to reflect the sweetness of the Qur'an. A sheep or a goat may be offered in sacrifice to mark the occasion.
The shaved hair from the baby is weighed and the equivalent weight in silver or gold is given to charity.
Once a child has been purified by Aqiqah, he or she should try to stay faithful to Allah and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
Circumcision
At the time of Aqiqah, seven days after birth, boy babies are circumcised. Some Muslims regard this as the equivalent of a sacrifice to Allah.
Muslims cleanse themselves before prayer and circumcision is said to make this total cleanliness easier to ensure.
Circumcision also connects Muslims today with the beginning of the religion of Islam. It follows the example of the prophet Abraham (Ibrahim). Muslims believe that circumcision shows that they are continuing the traditional religion.
Text E. Baby rites in Judaism
Like some other religions, Jewish baby rites differ for male and female babies.
Circumcision or Brit Milah
Any child born to a Jewish mother is considered a Jew. A Jewish girl does not have to go through the same initiation ceremony as a baby boy. The Brit Milah (circumcision ceremony) is an important initiation rite for young Jewish boys.
Circumcision is a religious obligation on Jews recalling the covenant that God made with Abraham. Ordinarily circumcision ceremonies take place when the child is eight days old but it can be delayed for medical reasons.
The Brit Milah is usually attended by men. The child is placed on the lap of a male friend or relative who has the honour of being the Sandek. He has the responsibility of holding the child still whilst the circumcision is performed by a Mohel.
Naming the baby
Baby boys are also given their names at their circumcisions; it is customary to keep the name a secret before the ceremony.
It is traditional for the child to receive his or her name at the first public gathering, so if the child is a girl, then she will be named at the first public reading of the Torah at the Synagogue.
Because the child is now part of the covenant, he has to follow the commandments that apply to all Jews, living his life within the Jewish community, respecting the laws and traditions that apply to all Jews, including Sabbath observance, dietary laws and prayer.
There are other Jewish traditions but these are more to do with superstition than having any real religious significance; for example pregnant women must not visit cemeteries.
Text F. Baby rites in Christianity
Infant baptism
Baptism has been a symbolic way of joining the Church from the very start of Christianity. Water is used in baptism, and is a symbol of washing away sin and the start of a new life.
Many denominations baptise infants. Although ceremonies are similar, there are some important differences between them.
During the infant baptism ceremony:
the baby, parents and the godparents are welcomed
there are readings from the Bible
the parents and godparents take vows, renounce Satan and evil and profess their faith and the faith they want the baby to be brought up in
the Apostles’ Creed might be said as a statement of faith
water is poured over the baby’s head as the minister says: I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (in Orthodox Churches, the baby is briefly put completely under the water)
godparents are sometimes given a lighted candle to represent the light of Jesus that has come into the baby’s life
for the ceremony, parents may dress their baby in a special white garment
Christians believe that baptism welcomes the child into the Church, and removes from the baby original sin that was brought into the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden.
The baptism ceremony also allows parents and godparents to make a promise before God to bring the baby up within the faith of Christianity.
Christian denominations that practise infant baptism include Anglicans, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians and Orthodox.