Rites of passage

A rite of passage is a ceremony that welcomes people to become a part of a new

group. The Mezcalero Apache in New México one of the most important rites of passage is
the coming of age ceremony, where a girl is to be considered a woman. The actual rite which
takes years of preparation begins with the rising of the tipi.

Where the girl sleeps 4 days prior, the 4 days of the celebration and 4 days after she
has become a woman.

During this sacred ritual, the girl's face will be dusted in pollen as a sign of fertility.
After she has been dusted she circles around a basket with traditional objects, four times
symbolizing the circle of life: baby, kid, adolescent and womanhood.

The Mezcalero Apache also set up a ceremonial fire in which the girls dance around
every night. Womanhood does not come easy to the girls longing for this milestone in their
lives. They must endure grueling ordeals that will test their endurance, character and
strength. During the 4 days in which they are being tested there will be scrant food and
sleeping will be limited.

A ceremony as important as a coming of age leaves an impactful and worthy

message, how the Apache came to be who they are, their story of origin gets passed down
from generation to generation in oral tradition along with other chants. When the ceremony
concludes the women run as far as they can wiping off white clay symbolizing the goddess.
Welcoming the life ahead of them as strong, brave and respected women.