A sweet sixteen birthday is a coming of age celebration for a teenager turning 16 years old. These events are primarily celebrated in the United States and Canada. While a sweet sixteen birthday party is more common among girls, the celebration does occur across all genders. The event is often celebrated with lavish, large celebrations, but some families treat it as a normal occurrence.
The sweet sixteen birthday has historical roots in the right of passage from child to young adult. It is likely a remnant of a time when families placed their grown daughters on display for suiters so that she could be introduced to the world as a young lady who was then ready for marriage. Times have changed, and what age society views as young adulthood is open for debate. What is clear is that young ladies no longer need a party find marriage partners, and gender equality has made this traditional purpose obsolete.
However, turning sixteen is still a great reason to celebrate.
The sweet sixteen event typically includes several traditions:
Montage
The DJ, if present, or the family often brings along several televisions or a projector to show a video montage set to music of the birthday girl containing pictures starting from when she was a baby and getting older, usually ending with pictures of her in her sweet sixteen dress. This is either made by the DJ with photos provided from the family of the birthday girl, by the parents, or by a sibling. The guests can either sit down and watch this montage, or it could be playing in the background while the guests dance.
Shoe ceremony
For girls, the shoe ceremony is common at Quinceañeras and sweet sixteen parties. In this ceremony, the birthday girl sits down in a chair while her father, grandfather, Godfather, Uncle, or brother approaches her with high heels on a decorative pillow. The girl would traditionally be wearing flat shoes, such as slippers, and the father ceremoniously helps her into her new high heels. This is symbolic of the girl transitioning into a woman.
Tiara ceremony
The tiara ceremony is similar to the shoe ceremony, except the mother or a strong female figure approaches with a tiara instead of shoes and places it on her daughter’s head to symbolize her becoming a woman. Sometimes this is combined with the shoe ceremony so that two people approach the birthday girl, one with a pillow with high heels, and the other with a pillow with a tiara.
Father-daughter dance
The father-daughter dance is a tradition that is also frequently performed at weddings in addition to the sweet sixteen celebration. The girl and her father dance to a slow-jazz or traditional song while everyone sits and watches. This is usually the first song of the night. Sometimes, girls also add a mother-daughter dance as a dedication to their mother.
Candle-light ceremony
This tradition is most common in Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Quinceaneras and sweet sixteens, although in different ages. There are typically 16 candles, each of which are given to special family members and friends by the birthday girl. Usually, when the recipient of the candle is named, a few words are said by the birthday girl in regards to why this person (or people) is special to them, they may tell a short story or fun memory they have shared with that person. Although the birthday girl can decide to give her candles to whomever she chooses, in whichever order she wants, here is the traditional order of candles:
Each of the 16 candles holds a special meaning:
• The first candle is for the girl’s parents.
• The second candle is for the siblings. (If there are no siblings, then this candle can represent the grandparents.)
• Candles 3, 4, 5 and 6 are for the rest of the family members.
• Candles 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are for friends.
• Candle 15 is for the girl’s best friend or friends.
• The 16th candle is for the boyfriend or a very close male friend.
• Some add a 17th candle which represents good luck
Other gifts and variations
Gifts for a sweet sixteen often include jewelry, clothing items, accessories, electronics, and any of the other typical birthday gifts. Sweet sixteen hosts often find it useful to make a gift registry so their family and friends have an easier time shopping for the birthday person. A gift registry at Giftapart.com is the easiest method for gifting as gift givers don't need to search through the list, but instead simply purchase as many parts as they want of the most desired gift first.
Other countries and cultures have variations of the coming of age parties. Throughout the world in different countries and religions, there are different events celebrating passages.
Similar to the sweet sixteen, the quinceañera in Hispanic countries and the festa de debutantes in Brazil, both at 15 years of age, celebrate a girls passage into womanhood.
In the Philippines, the debut (pronounced 'de-boo) celebrates a young woman's 18th birthday. A young man may also celebrate his own debut on his 21st birthday, albeit with less formal celebrations or none at all.
In Conservative, and Orthodox Judaism, girls reach the age of spiritual maturity at the age of 12, celebrated with a bat mitzvah, and for boys (and girls, in the Reform movement) at the age of 13, with a bar mitzvah, or for both, with a B'nai mitzvah and both girls, with a b'not mitzvah. These are important dates in the Jewish culture, because following these ceremonies, bar or bat mitzvah, the young person is considered an adult.
In many Christian denominations, both girls and boys reach the age spiritual maturity at around the age of 13 or 14, with the Sacrament of Confirmation.
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