Sweet sixteen (birthday)

Shoe ceremony For girls, the shoe ceremony is common at sweet sixteen parties. In this ceremony, the birthday girl sits in a chair while her father, grandfather, godfather, uncle, or brother approaches her, carrying a decorative pillow with high heels. The girl traditionally wore flat shoes, such as slippers, and the male family member ceremoniously helped 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. Usually, when the recipient of the candle is named, the birthday girl says a few words 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. The birthday girl can decide to give her candles to whomever she chooses. ==Popular culture==

Like most coming-of-age events, sweet 16s are common on TV, in movies (e.g. Sixteen Candles), music, books, and online. Music Songs that talk about or represent sweet 16s. • "When You Were Sweet Sixteen" - Written by James Thornton, published 1898, #3 hit for Harry McDonough in 1901 • "16 Candles" - recorded by the Crests and several other artists, including Roy Orbison • "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" - Neil Sedaka • "Sweet Little Sixteen" - Chuck Berry • "Sweet Sixteen" - Iggy Pop • "Sweet Sixteen" - Billy Idol • "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. • "My Little Girl" - Tim McGraw • "Butterfly Kisses" - Bob Carlisle • "Dear God" - Kevin Gates • "Only Sixteen" - Sam Cooke • "Sweet 16" - Green Day == See also ==