What involves a solemn transition recognized through ceremonies?

The concept of rites of passage encompasses significant transitions in an individual's life, often marked by ceremonies that acknowledge and celebrate these changes. This term broadly includes various life stages such as birth, puberty, marriage, and death, emphasizing the transformative nature of these experiences.

In the context of the question, rites of passage specifically denote formal ceremonies that signify the transition from one state or stage to another. For instance, a graduation ceremony signifies the completion of a degree, just as a wedding ceremony celebrates the union of partners. In the case of death, the transition signifies moving from life to death, often accompanied by various cultural or religious ceremonies to honor this change.

While rituals of mourning, funeral rites, and memorial services all relate to death and the grieving process, they fall under the broader category of rites of passage. Rituals of mourning specifically focus on expressing grief and loss. Funeral rites provide specific practices related to honoring and burying the deceased. Memorial services serve to remember and celebrate a person's life posthumously. However, none of these options capture the full scope of the transition itself the way rites of passage does, which can encompass a variety of life-changing events recognized through formal ceremonies.