ABSTRACT
The concept of 'rites of passage' was introduced by Belgian anthropologist Charles-Arnold van Gennep (1960, first published 1908). Through studying rituals from pre-literate societies and Christian, Hindu and Jewish sacred writings, he developed a theory for interpreting changes of status in human society. Rites of passage, often associated with religious ceremonies, enable communities to celebrate or commemorate with and on behalf of the individual(s) directly involved in the change.
