Many North American Indian cultures celebrate the coming-of-age of their members. Some might be punctuated celebrations, occurring over a period of days as recognition for their aging, while others might last for years. One common marker for young girls is the arrival at menarche, a biological marker of aging (Markstrom, 1). Puberty is a time in a young woman’s life that is encompassed by insecurity, awkwardness, judgment, and for some, pride. The Apache Tribe has a different approach to girls reaching puberty. The tribes, in Arizona and New Mexico, celebrate their members’ entrances into womanhood with a ceremony lasting several days and nights and filled with other members of the tribe singing, dancing, and praying (Yupanqui). It is believed
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Certainly, raising a child into adulthood is no easy task, nor is it as brief as a few days. The Sunrise Ceremony of the Apache Indians serves as a period of time where the aging of a young girl is acknowledged and celebrated. In modern times it seems as though traditions, such as celebrating the onset of puberty, have been cast aside for fear that they are too traditional or too primeval. For these ceremonies, it is thought to bring young girls into the roles they will occupy in the community for the rest of their lives (Markstrom, …show more content…
The preparations for the ceremony itself are tremendous; the parents will begin planning six months in advance. The first thing the parents must look for is an expansive space big enough for a large campfire, dancing, and surrounding areas large enough for the guests to camp in and watch the ceremony as it unfolds (Cummings, 2). Young Apache girls are prepared for their eventual Sunrise Dance early on in their youth. They attend many Sunrise Ceremonies by the time they are ready for their own, so they know what is expected of them. The girls are taught many values and beliefs they must uphold to be a valuable woman, or even be considered a woman, in the community. “The girls should be taught not to be lazy and to maintain a positive attitude when demands are made of them without backtalk to their elders” (Markstrom,
Certainly, raising a child into adulthood is no easy task, nor is it as brief as a few days. The Sunrise Ceremony of the Apache Indians serves as a period of time where the aging of a young girl is acknowledged and celebrated. In modern times it seems as though traditions, such as celebrating the onset of puberty, have been cast aside for fear that they are too traditional or too primeval. For these ceremonies, it is thought to bring young girls into the roles they will occupy in the community for the rest of their lives (Markstrom, …show more content…
The preparations for the ceremony itself are tremendous; the parents will begin planning six months in advance. The first thing the parents must look for is an expansive space big enough for a large campfire, dancing, and surrounding areas large enough for the guests to camp in and watch the ceremony as it unfolds (Cummings, 2). Young Apache girls are prepared for their eventual Sunrise Dance early on in their youth. They attend many Sunrise Ceremonies by the time they are ready for their own, so they know what is expected of them. The girls are taught many values and beliefs they must uphold to be a valuable woman, or even be considered a woman, in the community. “The girls should be taught not to be lazy and to maintain a positive attitude when demands are made of them without backtalk to their elders” (Markstrom,