Since humans have lived together in communities, we have created ceremonies to honor and celebrate significant changes in our lives and environment. The seasons of the year, a birth, coming of age, the joining of two lives in marriage, a death - all represent important changes or milestones in our lives. The enactment of ceremonies and rituals serves to prepare us for times of transition, facilitating our passage from one stage of life to the next, and bringing our community together to share in the stories, symbols and meaning of the event.