This is an intercultural text

1. Sweet Sixteen Parties
Sweet 16 parties in the United States celebrate a girl's transition into adulthood.
Sweet 16 parties celebrate a child's transition into adulthood. Turning 16 is a big event in a
teenager's life. It's a time of discovering the possibilities of independence.
By Sam Williams, eHow Contributor
Traditions for sweet sixteen candles
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
For females the shoe ceremony is common at sweet sixteen parties. 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.

2. Tiara ceremony
For females:
This ceremony is similar to the shoe ceremony, except the mother approaches with a tiara
instead of shoes. She places it on her daughters 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-jazz or traditional song while everyone sits and
watches. This is usually the first song of the night.
Video montage
A DJ often shows pictures starting from when she was a baby and getting older, usually
ending with pictures of her in her sweet sixteen dress. The guests can either sit down and
watch this montage, or it could be playing in the background while the guests dance.