Sweet sixteen (birthday)

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A sweet sixteen party is a type of birthday party in the United States, usually celebrated for a girl on her sixteenth birthday. Sweet Sixteen parties were traditionally given as a celebration of the girl's virginity, although this aspect of the party is losing its significance. In contemporary culture, Sweet Sixteen parties are primarily a celebration of the sixteen-year-old obtaining a driver's license, as 16 is the driving age in many states.^[1]

Contents 1 Counterparts in Other Cultures 1.1 Spanish and Latin American Cultures 1.2 Jewish Culture 2 Asian Culture 3 In Popular Culture 3.1 Film 3.2 Music 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Counterparts in Other Cultures

[edit] Spanish and Latin American Cultures

Many Spanish and Latin American cultures celebrate a girl's fifteenth birthday with a Quinceañera.

[edit] Jewish Culture

In traditional Judaism, girls reach the age of spiritual maturity at the age of 12 (with their bat mitzvah), compared to boys who reach the age of spiritual maturity at 13 (with their bar mitzvah). Many practitioners of Reform Judaism have adopted the Catholic custom of a confirmation ceremony, sometimes celebrated on the girl's sixteenth birthday.

[edit] Asian Culture

For filipina young girls, when they turn 18, they honor that age and have a Philippine Debut.

[edit] In Popular Culture

[edit] Film

• The 1984 film Sixteen Candles features a coming of age story as the lead character, Samantha Baker, turns sixteen.
• In the anime series Robotech, the 8th episode is called "Sweet Sixteen". It deals with the character Lynn Minmay's 16th birthday.

[edit] Music

• "16 Candles" - recorded by the Crests and several other artists, including Roy Orbison
• "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" - Neil Sedaka
• "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More 'Touch Me'" - Fall Out Boy
• "Sixteen" - on No Doubt's album Tragic Kingdom
• "Sweet Little Sixteen" - Chuck Berry
• "Sweet Sixteen" - Billy Idol, it references a lost love of Edward Leedskalnin.^{[citation needed]}
• "Sweet Sixteen" (no connection to the Billy Idol version) - Hilary Duff, it later became the theme song for MTV's reality show "My Super Sweet 16".
• "You're Sixteen" - written by the Sherman Brothers, recorded by Johnny Burnette, Ringo Starr and others.

[edit] See also

• Quinceañera
• Confirmation
• Bat Mitzvah
• 16 Age
• My Super Sweet 16
• Teenager

[edit] References