The Ceremony of Twelve takes place each year in December; at this time the Elders select the position that each Twelve will hold in the community. Since this is the final ceremony, it represents a rite of passage into adulthood and is, therefore, the most important ceremony performed for members of the community.
No other ceremonies are performed after the Ceremony of Twelve. Also, this is the occasion on which differences are acknowledged. The Elder...
The Ceremony of Twelve takes place each year in December; at this time the Elders select the position that each Twelve will hold in the community. Since this is the final ceremony, it represents a rite of passage into adulthood and is, therefore, the most important ceremony performed for members of the community.
No other ceremonies are performed after the Ceremony of Twelve. Also, this is the occasion on which differences are acknowledged. The Elder tells the soon-to-be Twelves:
"You Elevens have spent all your years till now learning to fit in, ....But, today we honor your differences. They have determined your futures. (Ch.7)
The new Twelves are called one-by-one according to their birth order; then they are given their Assignments, their roles in the community which they will perform for the rest of their lives. The Twelves are assigned roles in the community that the Elders have chosen for them, based upon their observations of each child. After this ceremony age is no longer important, and birthdays are no longer celebrated.
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