Rites of passage - Jacqueline Dineen

This text takes children around the world to see how different cultures have devised and developed ways of marking the important events in their lives. They can see how people welcome a new-born baby, choose its name and try to determine its future. They can also see how different peoples mark the transition from childhood to adulthood with coming-of-age celebrations. and learn about the varied marriage customs, including arranged marriages. Lastly, they can see how different beliefs and rituals have helped to deal with the final rite of passage, death.;This is part of a series which paints a picture of the age-old traditions that govern our lives. Life's turning points, such as naming, coming of age, getting married and dying are celebrated in different ways around the world. It should help children to form a better understanding of other cultures and their practices, see the underlying likenesses in different customs, and learn a tolerance of others so necessary in a multicultural society.