Becoming an Adult as a Rite of Passage

TOPIC: Rites of Passage


SOURCE: The personal experience of visiting my family in Reno Nevada and going through the rights of passage to be an adult in my family. 


RELATION: This topic is an example of rites of passage in my family. This relates to our lecture during this week and the readings in Robbins. 



DESCRIPTION:

My great grandparents immigrated to America from the small coastal town of Catolica Italy. My great-great grandfather’s father was a butcher in Italy and to this day in Reno Nevada; my grandfather holds the position of head butcher at a casino. My family holds tight to its Italian roots and traditions. When I was in Reno visiting my family for thanksgiving break, it was the first time I’d been back since I turned eighteen.  Upon arriving as the newest adult in the family, I realized that there were certain rights of passage that I had to go through. First of all I was allowed to help in the kitchen for thanksgiving dinner, while my sister who is sixteen was banned. “Only the adults in the kitchen during turkey time” my grandfather would say.    Getting to help prepare Thanksgiving dinner felt like a right of passage into adult hold for me.  By getting to cook with my grandmother, aunts, and older female cousins, I was being initialized into adulthood in my family.   Like me, my cousin had gone through the same tradition as a right of passage.  Also, my grandmother and aunts would include me in making decisions for the family, small things like what to make for dinner and what car to drive.  I felt that because I got to help with these decisions, I was being shown that I had more respect as well as more responsibility in our family.  I also felt pressure from my family to effectively pass the rights of passage “ceremonies” I was going through. I was expected to step up to responsibility as an adult in the family.  If I pass these tests I get rewarded with the title “adult” and other family perks such as learning family secrets and getting a glass of champagne at Thanksgiving dinner. 

COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS:

 Going through this right of passage into adulthood has been part of my family for generations. The meaning we put to these activities turn them into ceremonies and these ceremonies are what make up the rite of passage. This tradition marks a transition time in my life that is important to my family to celebrate.