Initiation rite
From Academic Kids
Initiation rites are formalized, ceremonial rites of passage as an individual moves from stage to stage within a social career or formally acquires such status.
The term often relates to the transition from childhood to adulthood, and may involve secret or private procedures and/or painful and difficult trials before the initiate can become a "real" or "accepted" man or woman who the community is bonded to; and who is bonded to the community.
Examples include:
- Hunter-gatherer societies have a reputation for dramatic pre-requisites before an initiate can become a full adult, marriageable member of society.
- In Christianity, baptism is an initiation rite. Some Christian churches offer a traditional sacrament of confirmation as an initiation rite recognizing full membership in itself and a re-capping of infant baptism; others are more strict.
- In Judaism, a Bar Mitzvah or a Bat Mitzvah ceremony performs a similar religious coming-of-age function.
- Many school systems feature a graduation ceremony as an initiation rite marking the end of a stage of learning.
- Secret societies often require their candidates for membership to undergo such rites.
[edit]
Patents for initiation devices
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued patents for devices to be used in initiation rites, including:
- No. 654,611 Initiating Device (issued in 1900)
- No. 920,837 Combined Lifting and Spanking Machine (issued in 1909)
- No. 953,411 Trick Weight-Lifting Machine (issued in 1910)
- No. 6,293,874 User-operated amusement apparatus for kicking the user's buttocks (issued in 2001)
[edit]
External links
- Initiating Device (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=654611.WKU.&OS=PN/654611&RS=PN/654611)
- Combined Lifting and Spanking Machine (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=920837.WKU.&OS=PN/920837&RS=PN/920837)
- User-operated amusement apparatus for kicking the user's buttocks (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,293,874.WKU.&OS=PN/6,293,874&RS=PN/6,293,874)da:Rite
