young woman's coming of age
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These pieces were created
especially for girls in celebration of their passage into womanhood. Includes
original poem describing the jewelry's symbolism. Also for any woman who honors the Goddess within
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About
Menarche Rituals
by Jaqui Freund
"Scared, confused, embarrassed, disappointed," these are some of the words women use to describe their feelings about their first menstruation. The word I'd use about my first period is "relieved." I was nearly sixteen. My mother and sister had both started at age 11, and I'd already endured years of my girlfriends complaining in school restrooms about their periods while I checked my panties only to be disappointed once again. Short, chubby, and flat chested, I was certain something was terribly wrong with me, afraid I'd never grow into a real woman. So, when my period finally came, I was immensely relieved! But...joyful, respected, honored, cherished? No. I suspect few women in our society would use these words to describe her menarche.
Recently, I was awed and inspired by a friend's Bat Mitzvah. I felt I'd truly witnessed a girl become a woman in her own eyes, in the eyes of her family and in the eyes of her community. I also felt a void of ritual in my family's life. So, with my own daughter's impending puberty, we've decided to create a rite of passage, a celebration to help her embrace the miraculous changes taking place in her body, and to emotionally and spiritually empower her as a young woman.
Fortunately, there is an abundance of resources about menarche rituals, past and present, to draw from. From these studies, I've learned that most cultures throughout history honor a girl's transition into womanhood with a special observance or celebration. According to Elizabeth Davis and Carol Leonard in their book, The Woman's Wheel of Life, most menarche rituals in non-industrial societies involve seclusion for days or even years. While long-term seclusion isn't usually practical in modern society, Davis and Leonard suggest several meaningful alternatives: "Menarche rites of today can range from formal ceremony to a simple gathering of special women friends and relatives for a wonderful meal together. The main idea is to distinguish this milestone event from everyday life. Women across the country are currently recreating or inventing these ceremonies for their daughters. But it is crucial that young women themselves participate in the design and content of their celebrations, choosing what is comfortable for them."
Last year I marked my niece's menarche by creating a necklace and a poem describing the jewelry's significance. Since then, I've had several custom pieces commissioned as gifts to honor a friend's or daughter's menarche which inspired me to created a line of menarche jewelry.
While still in the planning stages, my daughter and I are looking forward to her upcoming menarche ritual with eager anticipation. I'm confident that the rite of passage we create together will provide a memorable, meaningful and positive foundation for her transition into adulthood. I am grateful and honored to share this journey with her.
Learn more about Menarche Celebrations at:
