Sweet sixteen (birthday)
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A Sweet Sixteen is a traditional birthday party for girls to have when they turn sixteen. 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 can also be derived to mean turning 16 without being kissed.
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Relationship to the Jewish Tradition
In the earlier part of the 20th century, Sweet 16 parties were a de facto coming-of-age ceremony for young Jewish women. In traditional Judaism, girls reach the age of majority at the age of 12 (called bat mitzvah), but they are (generally) not permitted to marry until the age of 16. Compared to boys who reach the age of majority at 13 (called bar mitzvah), they are (generally) not permitted to marry until age 20. Today, Reform Judaism continues to recognize the importance of the sixteenth birthday for boys and girls with a confirmation ceremony. In Orthodox Jewish communities, marriages at younger ages do occur because of teen pregnancies; since abortions are prohibited, contraception is unavailable and sex education is non-existent in Orthodox communities.[[Citing sources citation needed]]MTV Show
MTV currently 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).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".See also
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