Country Dictionary

A fork of Rural Dictionary

Rite of passage

A rite of passage is a ritual that marks a change in a person's social or sexual status. The term was popularised by the French ethnographer Arnold van Gennep (1873-1957), in the early part of the twentieth century.

1. Its important to see Black Sabbath at least once in a lifetime, if you can. Its a rite of passage. 2. A rite of passage can be a religious experience

by IRON MAN January 27, 2005

Rites of Passage

Prescribed forms of ceremony used to mark and celebrate significant events in the life stages of an individual; birth, puberty, marriage, ordination of a special role, death, etc.

Rites of passage are ritual events that mark a person's progress from one status to another.

by ♫ Highway to Hell ♫ August 04, 2010

rites of passage

A ritual or ceremony signifying an event in a person's life indicative of a transition from one stage to another, as from adolescence to adulthood.

An example of rites of passage include debutante ball, graduation, formal etc.

by caity123 June 04, 2006

Rite of Passage

An activity someone older than you says will make you more mature, commonly idiotic, tedious, and/or destrictive.

"It's a rite of passage!" Shouted Uncle Mike, as I stared at the glass of motor oil and drain cleaner in front of me.

by Delicious Taffy November 22, 2015