By Cathy StovellWhen I think of my Bermuda culture I can’t really think of many ways we mark rites of passage. We often christen babies (although increasingly we don’t) but as they’re too young to remember any bit of it, it’s hard to think of it as a rite of passage.Getting a bike when we turn 16 is, I believe, the closest we come to any event to mark us moving from childhood into adulthood. In older traditions there are feasts, parades and myriad ways in which those societies celebrate this transition.For Bermudian woman As-Utchamet, the lack of a formal celebration to mark her passage into womanhood, has left her with a void she said she truly feels. And this has led her to offer a workshop for parents and guardians of young women, to teach them how they can celebrate a girl’s first menarche — the first time she starts menstruating.“I wish I had had a celebratory experience,” she said. “I have seen the impact it has made in the few women that I know who have had their first period celebrated.“I’ve noticed a difference in how they move through womanhood. I notice that they embrace their periods and they don’t use the same negative language attached to it, that many of us do.”Asked if these women experience menstrual cramping and pain, As-Utchamet said they do.“They talk about pain, however, they don’t talk about it in terms of it being burdensome,” she said. “They rather talk about how they deal with the pain. In fact they see it more as an indication of imbalance in their lives.“It gives them an indication of their overall health. When these women have pains they are more likely to ask themselves if they’ve had sufficient rest or exercise, if they have been taking on too much lately, or eating correctly.”According to As-Utchamet, embracing the fact that menstruation has begun, and giving some sound positive advice to a young woman, can go a long way to establishing the girl’s self-confidence, and her sense of self-love and self-respect.”Women who I know, who had celebrations around this, were told that there is a difference between how you feel, and how you treat yourself,” said As-Utchamet. “They generally don’t refer to their periods or their bodies in a negative way. I find their response honest, and positive.”She’s done some research on the topic and has joined an online group — Menstrual Movement, to highlight and educate parents on the impact having a celebration can make.As-Utchamet is offering a workshop entitled Celebrating the First Menarche on April 14.She said the workshop will focus on ways parents and guardians of girls can celebrate that time.“The whole purpose is that it is given a positive spin, because all to often it is not,” she said. “Parents will be given tools that will help them celebrate their child’s first period,” she added.These celebrations need not be elaborate ritual-like events, according to As-Utchamet. “If a person chooses to have a celebration they should engage the girl,” she said. “Don’t plan something for her without her input. It can be as simple as going out to dinner, maybe a small gift or the mother or guardian may have a symbolic gift they pass on.“Some girls will want an elaborate do, some girls actually have a red party, where everyone dresses in red,” she added.But most importantly the event should be marked in a way that suits the personality of the young woman.“Care should be taken not to embarrass her,” she said. “If a surprise is planned, make sure the surprise element suits her personality, and that she is going to be open to it.”The workshop takes place on Saturday, April 14 from 2.30pm — 4pm at The Healing Centre, Euclid Avenue, Hamilton. Contact inloveconsulting@gmail.com for more information