A sweet sixteen, like a wedding, can be extremely formal, casual, or semi-formal. Sweet sixteens can range from a simple house party or dinner party at a restaurant to large affairs with a hired DJ, makeup and hair stylists, and renting out yachts and hotel ballrooms. Large and formal sweet sixteens are featured prominently on MTV's TV show, My Super Sweet Sixteen.
Traditions
Candle-lighting ceremony
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 a significant male, such as a boyfriend or good friend.
* Some add a 17th candle which represents good luck.
Shoe ceremony
The shoe ceremony is common at sweet sixteen parties, although they are more often seen in Quinceañeras. In this ceremony, the birthday girl sits down in a chair while her grandfather, uncle, godfather, or father 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
This ceremony is similar to the shoe ceremony, except the father/grandfather approaches with a tiara instead of shoes. He places it on the birthday girl'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. The girl and her father dance to a slow song while everyone sits and watches.
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