{"id":3492,"date":"2025-12-19T14:51:40","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T22:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/?p=3492"},"modified":"2025-12-19T14:51:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T22:51:41","slug":"rite-on-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/magazine\/rite-on-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Rite on Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n \n \n
\n \n \n
\n\n \n

Rite on Time<\/h1>\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n
\n \n
\n\n \n Around the world, colorful cultural rituals transform milestones into meaningful celebrations, strengthening bonds of family, tradition and community.\n\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n By<\/span>Margaret Crable<\/a><\/strong>\n \n December 19, 2025<\/span>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n
\n \n \n Share\n <\/span>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Copy Link<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Facebook<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n \n\n<\/svg>\n\n <\/span>\n X<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n LinkedIn<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Bluesky<\/span>\n <\/a>\n \n \n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n Email<\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n \n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

1 Doljabi<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

At a Korean baby\u2019s first birthday, guests gather to watch as the child crawls toward a table of symbolic objects \u2014 for instance, a pencil for scholarship, thread for longevity or a ball for athletic success. In this charming tradition, the item the child chooses is believed to predict and bless their future, says Sunyoung Park<\/a>, associate professor of East Asian languages and cultures<\/a>, and gender and sexuality studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

2 Agrahadig\/Atamhatik<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

To celebrate a baby\u2019s first tooth, Armenian families sprinkle boiled grains of wheat (symbolizing teeth) on a veil held above the child\u2019s head. In a similar manner as Doljabi, the child then selects from special objects to prophesy their future. These traditions symbolizes a fruitful and fortunate life for the child, says Shushan Karapetian<\/a>, director of the Institute of Armenian Studies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

3 Quincea\u00f1era<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Widely celebrated across Latin America, this lavish party is thrown on a girl\u2019s 15th birthday to mark her transition into womanhood. It also serves to strengthen family and community ties. \u201cAmong immigrants in the United States, godparents often sponsor key elements \u2014 such as the cake \u2014 symbolically joining the family in the process,\u201d says Xochitl Ruiz<\/a>, lecturer in anthropology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\n\n \n
\n <\/svg>\n \n
\n\n \n

\u201cThrough ritualized rites of passage, a community witnesses the transformation of the child to adult or the unmarried to the married. Such social events help solidify each new identity as we age.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n \n