Tag Archives: coming of age

Turkish Circumcision

Age: 21

Text:

“When I was getting circumcision, all the people was watching me, actually. If I remember, I was in my parents room and a doctor came, and he started, doing a circumcision, to me – actually, that day, my grandpa. called me like my grandpa was over there. They give me a shot to my balls, like local anaesthesia, and I was six, and I remember I didn’t feel anything there, you know. And I was like, freaking out. And I escaped from the house. I started running, and my grandpa catch me, and he told me that, ‘hey, you’re not gonna do it right now. They’re gonna do it in the army. They’re gonna do it in the military, and they do it with the axe, when you’re 20.’ I was like, what? I’m like, I was so scared, you know, I’m like, ‘Okay, I should go back, I guess.’ Because I was so scared. In Turkey, military is mandatory, you don’t have a choice. I was like, forcing, and I went back, and I just made them do it. And as I said, I was like, six, – I have a video too. When I was getting a circumcision, and my aunts were coming in the room, my uncles were coming in the room, you know, they were just watching me. I’m like, and I didn’t know that much, you know, what’s going on. I remember, we do have food and stuff. People is coming more like our inner circle people, like Inner Inner Circle family. They come in and they eat some stuff, you know, and be celebrating that in the hall, in the home, too.”

Context:

“I didn’t know if it’s, like, very important thing, you know, and I didn’t know that much, but I knew that for my grandpa, for example, it was very important”

Analysis: 

This account of the Turkish sünnet (circumcision) ritual, emphasizes both its emotional weight and its communal significance. The informant’s memory blends fear, confusion, and performance, as the procedure becomes not only a medical event but a public spectacle within the family home. The presence of relatives, the filming of the moment, and the celebratory food all reflect the integration of private bodily transformation with familial observation and tradition. His grandfather’s comment—framing circumcision as a necessary precursor to avoid a harsher military version—reflects how elders use symbolic threats and traditional authority to uphold cultural rites. While the child at the center doesn’t fully understand the ritual’s meaning, he perceives its importance through the seriousness with which his elders treat it. 

South Sudanese Dinka Face Sacrifice Ritual

Text:

Among the Dinka people of South Sudan, young men traditionally undergo forehead scarification as a rite of passage into adulthood. This practice involves making six to eight deep, V-shaped cuts across the forehead using a sharp blade or razor, often performed without the use of anesthetic. The process is public, ceremonial, and witnessed by members of the community. The scars, once healed, form a permanent pattern that serves as a visible marker of the transition from boyhood to manhood. Boys who complete the ritual are celebrated and granted new social responsibilities and recognition.

Context:

This was shared with me by a friend from South Sudan whose grandfather underwent the ritual. She described the ceremony as both terrifying and honorable. She explained that although the ritual is extremely painful and intimidating, it is considered a great honor. For her granfather, it was the defining moment that earned him respect not only within their village but also within the family. The ceremony took place in front of elders, friends, and family members, and afterward, he was given new privileges, including a say in village matters and the right to marry.

Interpretation:

This tradition shows how the Dinka people value strength, bravery, and community. The scars are not just about appearance, they tell a story of growing up and earning respect. Going through pain is seen as a way to prove you are ready for adult life. Today, fewer Dinka boys go through the ritual, especially those who move away from South Sudan. This shows how culture can change over time, especially when people live in new places. Still, the meaning behind the ritual stays strong for many families.

Debut (18th Birthday)

Nationality: Filipino American
Age: 23
Occupation: Student
Residence: Cerritos, CA

Text 

“When I turned 18, I had a debut. It is basically a Filipino coming-of-age celebration. It’s like a quinceañera but at 18. For Filipinos, it’s a big deal. Turning 18 means you’re entering adulthood, so you’re presented to your family and community with all the grace and glamor of a princess. 

The most memorable part of my debut was the 18 roses and 18 candles.

The 18 Roses are dances. 18 men, usually dads, cousins, and guy friends, each danced with me one by one. They handed me a rose and sometimes say a short message. It can get pretty emotional.

The 18 Candles are when 18 girls or women light a candle and give a short speech about me. Some speeches were funny, and others were mini love letters from my closest friends. It was a way of seeing myself through the eyes of people who had known me my whole life, and it really stuck with me. 

I didn’t grow up in the Philippines, but doing the debut made me feel connected to that part of me.”

Context 

The informant is a second-generation daughter who celebrated her debut at age 18 with a full program including traditional elements like 18 Roses and 18 Candles. She emphasized that while she was raised in the United States, the debut helped her feel connected to her Filipino heritage. 

My interpretation 

The debut functions as a coming-of-age rite that is both performative and symbolic. In folkloristic terms, it marks a liminal moment, a passage from girlhood into adult social identity that is celebrated through structured ritual acts. 

The debut reinforces intergenerational values, especially within diasporic settings where tradition must be actively chosen and adapted. The event also serves as a space of collective storytelling as speeches and dances become public affirmations of the debutante’s identity, relationships, and future. Through these performances, the community participates in shaping the celebrant’s transition, offering both affirmation and expectation.

Las Vegas Legend

Nationality: American
Age: 52
Occupation: Clerical staff
Language: English

Text:

This is about the guy who went to Vegas and he went to a club and was drinking and just partying and picked up some girl and was planning to leave the club with her. But when he woke up, well, the last thing he remembered was the club and then when he woke up, he was in a hotel in the bathtub with ice around him. And blood. And on the mirror of the bathroom, there was a note and it basically said ‘call 911’. Come to find out, the guy had gotten drugged and someone stole his kidney. 

Context:

Back in the mid 90s when I turned 21, we were going to go ahead and go on a trip to Vegas, my first trip. I went with my sister and my mom. I don’t remember if I went with a friend, too, or who, but anyway. Before we went, my sister and her friend, Jennifer, who were both older than I am, told me this. Well, I found out after the fact, this was a story that was actually going around at the time and pretty much everyone I knew was told this story before they went to Vegas for the first time.”

Analysis:

This legend seems to relate, in a way, to another saying: What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. While that usually is used as a cheeky reference to wild parties and sex, it manifests within this story both as a practical joke and as a warning. The informant describes how she heard this story from her older sister, as many other people going to Vegas for the first time also had. It seems to have been a way to scare them; the older tellers of these legends may have believed less in their validity, but the younger one who doesn’t know what to expect will be more inclined to believe. On the other hand, this serves as a real warning about going to a city with a big club scene. The guy in the legend drank at a bar and was going to go home with a girl but woke up in an unfamiliar place instead. The same thing happens all the time as people try to take advantage of others or spike their drinks. This legend reflects the valid fears about being drugged or hurt when partying, especially in an unfamiliar place on vacation, away from home and family.

Philippine Debut

Text: 

On her 18th birthday, a Filipino girl is usually expected to have a debut ball.

Context:

The informant is my maternal grandmother, who was born and raised in the Philippines, and still continues to live there. She celebrated her debut in 1956. For her, the ceremony was a special and important occasion that allowed her to celebrate her birthday with friends and family members in a grand and unforgettable manner.

Analysis:

In Filipino culture, the debut represents a coming of age ritual. Since the age of adulthood for Filipino girls is 18, the debut is held on their 18th birthday. The debut holds a significance similar to the Quincenera (age 16)  for Mexican and other Latin American cultures as well as the sweet sixteen for some North American cultures. As in most coming of age rituals, the celebration marks the crossing of the threshold between childhood and adulthood, and in this specific case, childhood to womanhood. After the debut, the debut celebrant is recognized by her society as an adult woman.