ceremonies

Coming of age

Many traditions mark the moment a young person becomes responsible for their own faith.

Islam

Reaching maturity (bulugh)

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happens

There is no religious ceremony. At puberty a young person becomes responsible for prayer, fasting and the other duties. Many families celebrate a child's first complete reading of the Qur'an (khatm or ameen) with a gathering.

why

Responsibility comes with maturity and understanding, not with a ritual.

origins

The duties of maturity come from the Qur'an and hadith; the Qur'an-completion party is a cultural custom, common in South Asia, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Christianity

Confirmation; first communion

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happens

In Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches, young people confirm the promises made at their baptism, and a bishop lays hands on them. Catholic children usually take first communion around age 7–8.

why

The young person now chooses the faith for themselves and receives the Holy Spirit's strength.

origins

The apostles laying hands on new believers (Acts 8:14–17).

Judaism

Bar and bat mitzvah

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happens

At 13 a boy becomes bar mitzvah (son of the commandment); a girl becomes bat mitzvah at 12 or 13. They are called up to read from the Torah in the synagogue, followed by a family celebration.

why

The young person is now responsible for keeping the commandments.

origins

"At thirteen, the commandments" (Pirkei Avot 5:21). The first public bat mitzvah in the United States was Judith Kaplan's in 1922.

Hinduism

Upanayana (sacred thread)

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happens

In some communities a boy, traditionally at 8–12, receives a sacred thread and is taught the Gayatri Mantra by a guru, beginning his life as a student. Many families also mark a girl's first menstruation with celebrations, especially in South India.

why

A "second birth" into learning and spiritual life.

origins

One of the samskaras in the Grihya Sutras. Who receives upanayana has historically been limited by caste, which many Hindus today challenge.

Buddhism

Temporary ordination; shinbyu

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happens

In Myanmar, boys become novice monks for a time in the shinbyu ceremony, dressed first as princes to recall Prince Siddhartha leaving his palace. In Thailand many young men ordain as monks for a few weeks or months.

why

To learn the Dhamma, make merit for their parents and grow in discipline.

origins

The story of the Buddha's renunciation; the custom of temporary ordination grew in Theravada countries.

Sikhism

Dastar Bandi; Amrit

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happens

Many boys have a turban-tying ceremony (Dastar Bandi) at the gurdwara. Young people, and adults, may choose to take Amrit, the initiation into the Khalsa.

why

The turban is a crown of commitment and responsibility; Amrit is a lifelong vow.

origins

Dastar Bandi is a family and community custom; Amrit begins with Guru Gobind Singh's first initiation at Vaisakhi in 1699.

customs

Coming-of-age ages: 12 or 13

Linked in several traditions to puberty and the ability to understand duties.

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Japan's Coming of Age Day

A national, not religious, celebration held each January for young people turning adult.

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regional

Myanmar

The shinbyu procession, with boys dressed as princes before becoming novice monks.

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culture

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