iniciaatio
Iniciaatio is a Finnish term that corresponds to the English word “initiation.” It denotes the formal admission or commencement of a person, organization, or process into a new state or role. In cultural anthropology, initiation describes rites of passage that mark transitions such as puberty, adulthood, or membership in a society, tribe, or religious order. These rituals often involve symbolic actions, teachings, and communal participation, and they are recorded in anthropological literature as key elements in the maintenance of cultural continuity.
In Finland, iniciaatio commonly appears in contexts such as university orientation programs, where new students are
Religious contexts feature iniciaatio in sacramental practices, including confirmation in Lutheran and Catholic churches and certain
Etymologically, iniciaatio is borrowed from the Latin initium, meaning “beginning,” and parallels the Greek ένιξη (enix), both