Interesting Find

Rites of passage article:
http://www.berkshirepublishing.com/assets_news/WHTG/articles/InitiationandRitesofPassage_18-Apr-2005.html

Exerpt

Structure of a rite of passage
Rites of passage are found in every known human society, past and present. Additionally, these rituals tend to share certain broad structural features in common. Thus, any rite of passage typically begins with a formal separation of the transitioning individual from the old state or status. The person then remains for some period of time in a marginal or transitional state divorced from both past and future statuses. Finally, in the incorporation phase of the rite, the transitioning individual enters into the new state or status.