Sweet sixteen (birthday)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A sweet sixteen is a traditional birthday party for girls and sometimes boys to have when they turn sixteen years old. In parts of the United States and Canada, sixteen is the age at which one may obtain a driver's license. It is also the age of consent in many states, hence it is viewed by many adolescents as an important milestone. It's the American counterpart of the Spanish and Latin American tradition of a Quinceañera, with both parties having the same sense but in Spanish-speaking countries it is at the 15th birthday.
The term can also be understood to mean turning 16 without having been kissed.[citation needed]
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[edit] Relationship to the Jewish tradition
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). In the earlier part of the 20th century, sweet sixteen parties were a de facto coming-of-age ceremony for young Jewish women, since while bar mitzvahs were publicly celebrated, bat mitzvahs were not. Today, Reform Judaism continues to recognize the importance of the sixteenth birthday for boys and girls with a confirmation ceremony.
[edit] MTV show
MTV has a show called "My Super Sweet 16" that features wealthy girls (and during four episodes, boys), most of whom are portrayed as being spoiled. Many episodes show the girls as being shallow and nasty to those who don't do what they want, including their parents. Each 30-minute episode revolves around the sweet sixteen of a different girl or boy. The show was not well received by critics and many people just watch it to laugh at the perceived stupidity of the teenagers.[citation needed]
[edit] Other popularizations
The 1984 film Sixteen Candles features a coming of age story as the lead character, Samantha Baker, turns sixteen. Before that, a song "Sixteen Candles" was recorded by several artists, including Roy Orbison. A song by Hilary Duff called "Sweet Sixteen" celebrates the freedom of being a sixteen-year old girl. There is another song by Billy Idol with the same name (which actually references a lost love of Edward Leedskalnin of that age), as well as a song by Neil Sedaka called "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" and a song by Chuck Berry titled "Sweet Little Sixteen". Fall Out Boy recorded a song titled "A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More 'Touch Me'" that is thought to be a possible reference to the age of consent.
