Websites:
by:Caroline Aversano
Marking the milestones on the road to adulthood
There are two interconnected paths to coming of age – religious rites of passage and cultural celebrations.
Religious Rites of Passage
General resources
Beliefnet.com
An independent spiritual web site, Beliefnet is not affiliated with any spiritual organization or movement.
http://www.beliefnet.com/index/index_10191.html
Religioustolerance.org
Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance is a multi-faith group. As of January 2006, OCRT consists of one Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Wiccan and Zen Buddhist. http://www.religioustolerance.org/wicpuber.htm
Specific religions
Jewish Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation
A simply worded explanation of the significance of these rituals.
http://www.jewfaq.org/barmitz.htm
Catholic Confirmation
Entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia for confirmation; describes current practices, history, and theology, as well as the role of confirmation in British and Irish churches, and in other Christian faiths.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04215b.htm
A list of links ranging from Christian names to a confirmation quiz designed by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office for the Catechism.
http://www.silk.net/RelEd/confirmation.htm
Hindu Sacred Thread Ceremony
Hindu boys would go through the Janeu or Upanayana ceremony, which is popularly known as the Sacred Thread Ceremony, It is the rite through which a male child is initiated into the vows of the guru, the Vedas, the restraints, observances and the vicinity of God.
http://dalsabzi.tripod.com/Books/Hindu_customs_and_beliefs/rituals_pg1.htm
Islam al-khitan
The pros and cons of male and female circumcision presented by the FGM Education and Networking Project.
http://www.fgmnetwork.org/authors/samialdeeb/Mutilate/Chapter3.html
Unitarian Coming of Age Program
A program designed to help teens determine what is means to be a Unitarian Universalist, both individually and in context of a faith community.
Wiccan Coming of Age
An attempt to meld old traditions with modern realities to instill in Wiccan teens “knowledge of and belief in themselves as special, worthy, and intelligent.”
http://www.tryskelion.com/adulthd.htm
Cultural Celebrations
Quinceaños
A rite of passage for fifteen-year-old Latina girls, it is a traditional in which a young girl is symbolically escorted into womanhood by her family and the event is witnessed by her community.
http://www.nyfolklore.org/pubs/voic28-3-4/onair.html
http://www.library.eb.com/hispanic_heritage/article-9389229
Seijin no hi or Seijin shiki
The Japanese Coming of Age festival is celebrated on the second Monday of January. All young people who turn twenty years old in that year are celebrated on Seijin no hi. Twenty is the age considered as the beginning of adulthood. It is also the minimum legal age for voting, drinking, and smoking. Celebrations are held nationwide in every town with most of the people turning 20 participating in formal dresses. Seijin no hi is a national holiday.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2280.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seijin_no_hi
Other milestone events
Driving – a privilege and a responsibility
Drivehomesafe.com’s page for teens.
http://drivehomesafe.com/just_4_u_teens.htm
Safe driving tips for teens, parents, and all drivers
The I Promise Program – The heart of the program is the Parent-Youth Safe Driving Contract, developed with the input of teens, parents, police, traffic safety experts and researchers. The issue isn't trust, it’s safety.
http://www.ipromiseprogram.com/
Got a job? Don’t blow all that hard earned cash!
Start
Smart: Money Management for Teens
How to
save, spend and protect your cash
http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnsum06/index.html
The Motley Fool’s Teens & Their Money
Investing information teens should understand.
http://www.fool.com/teens/teens.htm
Teen spending quiz from the Indiana Department of Financial institutions
http://www.in.gov/dfi/education/MiniLessons/teen%20spending%20Mini.html
TeenSpace at the Internet Public Library’s page on Money & Work
http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/browse/mw0000/
Turn your hobby or talent into a business
US Small Business Administration’s Teen business page
Advice on starting, growing & owning your own business.
The Political Process & Voting
Center for Youth Citizenship
http://www.youthcitizenship.org/
CoolTeens forum on Politics
http://www.cool-teens.com/forumdisplay.php?forumid=46
Explore the workings of the branches of government, get politically educated and involved.
US Department of State’ Youth page
Voter Registration
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/election/registration.html
Youth Leadership Initiative – the University of Virginia Center for Politics
http://www.youthleadership.net/index.jsp
General resources
Internet Public Library’s TeenSpace
Information to help with life, school, friends, and work.
Parent-teen.com: an online magazine for families with teens
Ok, so it’s geared towards adults, but why let that stop you from visiting the site!
Articles
Teens come of age at parties they’re not old enough for
All about MTV’s My Super Sweet 16
USA Today Coming-of-age grows lavish
The Sweet 16 party goes upscale.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2006-04-18-sweet16_x.htm
Teen Protester: Coming of
Age in Turkey Through the Anti-War Movement
The war in Iraq
inspired many people to get involved in protests for the first time. Ozgur
Yazici an 18-year-old student from Turkey, explains how the war inspired him and
his friends to take to the streets.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0507-10.htm
Organizations & Agencies:
Organizations
Healthy Teen Network
A national organization focused on adolescent health and well being with an emphasis on teen pregnancy prevention, teen pregnancy, and teen parenting.
http://www.healthyteennetwork.org/