Puberty around the world

How is puberty observed around the world?

Puberty

The period during which the secondary sex characteritics begin to develop and the capability of sexual reproduction is attained.

 

http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Puberty

 

First Nations

The manner in which she acted during her first menstrual blood flow was believed to bestow good or bad luck on the rest of her life and the lives of her relatives. To insure good luck certain rituals were observed. Proper conduct compelled young girls to remain in the same spot once their menarche started. If the girl was walking and detected her flow she could be obligated to wait in the cold until someone found her. With good reason young girls, around the age of puberty, would always dress appropriately for the weather in fear of unexpectedly beginning her menstrual flow. Once found, a close male relative of the father's moiety (opposite of the girl's societal clan) would build her a brush hut away from camp where she lived alone for several weeks, or if from a wealthy or distinguished family, she could remain there for upwards of a year or two. Women, such as her mother, aunts or cousins would visit to bring food, help with rituals and to ensure that procedures were being observed.

http://www.yukonmuseums.ca/treasures/km/01.html


Islam

Islam sets out no rites for puberty per se. But there is a series of actions beginning around age seven that lead children towards their gender-based, adult roles in Moslem society. Boys, for example, will begin to attend public prayers with the men and girls will start to focus their activities more on the home and the family. This division of roles is traditional, and in the modern era is undergoing transformation in different countries around the world.

http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/islam/islife.htm


Uaupes of Brazil

When a girl reaches puberty and her menstrual cycle starts it is her step forward into womanhood. In many countries it is celebrated over a period of days and often involves physical beatings. In the Uaupes people of Brazil the ritual of the menses includes house seclusion of the girl for one month with only bread and water. Once the seclusion is complete the girl is brought out naked and beat with sticks by family and friends until she is either dead or blacks out. Once the girl wakes up, if she does, the beating is repeated four times. After the fourth beating the sticks used to beat her with are dipped into pots of fat and given to the girl to lick for nourishment. She is now considered a woman and worthy of marriage.

http://akorra.com/2010/10/10/top-10-odd-puberty-rituals/


Jewish

When a Jewish girl reached the age of puberty, she was called, in Hebrew, betulah. This word defined her as an adolescent girl who had reached puberty but not yet given birth to her first child. It is sometimes translated as ‘virgin’, but in fact it related more to her age group than her physical state.

During her menstrual period, a Jewish woman was relieved of many of her normal duties. She was not required to draw and carry water from the well. She did not have to serve food to members of the family. She did not have to go to the marketplace. She did not have sexual intercourse. The days of her menstrual period were regarded as a time out, a time for herself. On these days, relieved of a number of her duties, she had time to think and rest.

http://www.womeninthebible.net/3.2.Major_Events.htm


Muslim

When the child reaches puberty, he becomes fully accountable for his deeds in front of Allah (SWT). It is first and foremost the responsibility of the parents to carry this message to the child.  The parents of the adolescent boy should inform him that the first time he ejaculates he becomes accountable for his actions in front of Allah (SWT), and he should perform the acts of worship in the same way that adult Muslims do.
When the girl is about nine years old, her parents should inform her that the first time she sees blood (menstruation), she becomes accountable for her acts and the worship acts prescribed on the Muslim women are also prescribed on her.

http://www.missionislam.com/family/puberty.htm




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRe_-AhgfWU&feature=related