Rites of Passage: Celebrating Life's Transitions

'Tis the season of graduations, and families everywhere are celebrating accomplishments and launching children into new grades, new ventures, new careers, and new independence. While the completion of schooling is one widely recognized rite of passage, many others contribute to the transition from childhood to adulthood and beyond.

What traditions of family and faith make possible the move into new stages of life? Why are these rituals and customs important? Where do they come from and what do they symbolize?