Ceremonies

The ceremonies in the book happen every December. These ceremonies show a sign of maturity, an advance in age, and a growth in responsibility by singling out the kid’s interests and hobbies.

Meaning of a Ceremony -- A formal act or set of acts prescribed by ritual custom or etiquette.

Ceremonies in the Book

Birth -- Babies are born in the Nurturing Center and get their comfort object because it allows the baby to learn small muscle control and it trains the babies to sleep soundly.

Age 1-- Assigned to Family Unit and given name

Age 3-- Females get hair ribbons because they start growing hair in different ways and they all need to look the same. Start dream sharing and learn correct language.

Age 4-- Backward buttoned jacket are given out to teach the kid interdependence/cooperation.

Age 7-- Front buttoned jacket are given out to learn independence and it was the first visible symbol of maturity.

Age 8-- Comfort object is taken away. They start volunteer hours because the kids are mature enough to help out other people. Jacket with pockets and smaller buttons is given.

Age 9-All get a bike because it is “The powerful emblem of moving gradually out into the community, away from the protective family unit,”. Females get hair ribbons taken out as a sign of maturity.

Age 10-- Boys get hair cut and girls get braids taken out as a sign of maturity.

Age 11-- Girls get new undergarments because their bodies will start maturing faster. Boys get longer pants. Volunteer hours are over because they should finish volunteer hours a year before the Ceremony of Twelve. They may begin using a calculator for schoolwork.

Age 12-- Receive life assignment and start training for job while still in school.(begins adulthood)

Full adulthood-- Apply for spouse (marriage). Apply for children (optional).

Childless Adult-- When both kids are out of the house, when their apprenticeship is over, the parents don’t need to provide for their kids anymore so they go to live with other childless adults.

Old age-- House of the Old because older people need special care.

People in the Community

- Birthmothers - The Birthmothers throughout their career have three babies and after that they become Laborers for the rest of their life. The community has no respect for the birthmothers. Inger is a birth mother. Lois Lowry uses this group in the community to show how structured the community is.

- Nurturers - The Nurtures take care of new born babies before the Ceremony of One. When there is a twin, they keep the baby that weighs more and releases the one that weighs less. They also release babies who do not mature as fast as everyone else.

- The Committee of Elders - The Committee of Elders pick the life assignments, and they make all the important decisions for the community. During the volunteer hours they study all of the kids actions, that helps them to choose the life assignments for the kids. Lois Lowry uses the committee of elders to show that their community is similar to ours. The committee of elders make all the communities important decisions.

- Directors of 3-12 - The Directors teach the age groups from 3-12.
- Laborers - The Laborers do hands on jobs all throughout their lives. You need to be strong, healthy, and you must have self discipline. Lois Lowry uses the job of laborers to show that not everybody in the community is as intelligent as they raise them to be.

- Street Cleaners - The Street Cleaners clean and maintain the streets.

- Landscape workers - The Landscape Workers cut the grass and do all the landscaping in the community.

- Food Delivery People - The Food Delivery People deliver the food, for all three meals. (They deliver the food to the people at the Recreation Center.

- Path Matinee Crew - The Path Maintenance Crew cleans the sidewalks and paths.

- Attendants - The Attendant greets the Receiver everyday while entering the Annex. Attendants help the Giver.

- Caretakers of the Old- The Caretakers give the old baths. They also need to be sensitive, gentle, and patient. Fiona is also a Care Taker.

-Food Collectors - The food collectors pick up and clean the food.

The Rules

Rules in our society help to keep us in order. They also help protect everyone in the society from danger. The society in The Giver lives strictly on their rules. The rules in The Giver practically apply to everyone in the community. Below is a list of rules that apply to the society in The Giver.

1. There is no lying

2. You must use precise language

3. You must share feelings at dinner

4.You must share dreams at breakfast

5. You must take pills for stirrings

6. You must finish volunteer hours

7. You can only have two kids, one boy and one girl

8. There is no fighting

9. Adults and children can’t look at each other nude

10. Respect elders

11. Be respectful

12. Can’t ride a bike before the age of nine

13. Girls must wear ribbons until the age of nine

14. Must get a life assignment at Ceremony of Twelve

15. You must apologize for bad things

Examples

  • You must use proper language- “ ‘I want my smack’ Asher had asked for a smack but ment to say snack” . “The discipline wand, in the hand of the Childcare worker, whistled as it came down across Asher’s hands” .
  • You must take pills for stirrings- “ATTENTION A REMINDER THAT STIRRINGS MUST BE REPORTED IN ORDER FOR TREATMENT TO TAKE PLACE”
  • Must get Life Assignment at Ceremony of Twelve- “Jonas is selected not assigned as Receiver of Memory for the rest of his life” .
  • You can only have two kids- “Two children, one male, and one female for each family unit”.
  • Can’t ride bike before the age of nine- “ ‘I’ve been teaching her how to ride my bike even though technically I wasn’t supposed to” .