Celebrating Your Separation - Divorce Ceremonies are on the Rise

Ceremonies to celebrate the union of two people have been a tradition for thousands of years. But celebrating divorce? As unusual as it sounds, an increasing number of couples in Japan are ending their marriage with a ceremony.

Hiroki Terai, a divorce planner in Japan, held his 79th divorce ceremony last week. At each ceremony, he tells the couple to smash their wedding rings with a hammer. A buffet meal is included and family and friends are encouraged to attend. A CNN report from September 7, 2010  quotes Terai as saying: "There's no mistaking that divorce is a sad process, but I believe that by declaring your new start in life in front of your friends, relatives and family, you draw a clear line. It helps emotionally."

The trend seems to be catching on in the United States as well. ABC News reported on a divorce ceremony that took place in Southern California in June. The ceremony included returning their wedding rings and reading separation statements.

Not everyone thinks celebratory divorce rituals are positive though. Conservative family advocate Maggie Gallagher believes that divorce is not something to be celebrated because of the suffering it can cause, particularly to children. She was quoted in the June ABC News report as saying "I'd rather put my energy into helping more marriages succeed than trying to remake divorce into a kinder, gentler institution."

Will divorce ceremonies become a common ritual? Despite the controversy, it seems very possible.