SOCIAL FUNCTION OF RITES OF PASSAGE OF KHMER ETHNIC PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN VIETNAM

Abstract

The rites of passage are life-cycle ceremonies marking significant life transitions of individuals in the Khmer community. Examples of rites of passage that most Khmer people experience consists of the birth ceremony, the rite of renunciation, the pre-wedding ceremony for female, weddings, the longevity wish ceremony, and funerals. At each rite of passage, the important ceremonies will take place. These ceremonies are not only important for a certain individual but also perform social functions to maintain the integrity of the ethnic social system. Social functions of these rites include denoting community norms, educating the community, making community cohesion, and preserving the traditional culture of the ethnic community. Using the theory of social function of Alfred Radcliffe - Brown (1881-1955), the article analyzes secondary and primary data sources collected during the fieldwork to describe the process of rites of passage and analyzes the social functions of these rites in the Khmer community in the Southern Vietnam.