Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2023 January 26

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January 26

Why "sweet sixteen"?

What is the origin of the North-American tradition of "sweet sixteen" birthday celebrations? I wonder specifically how this got pegged to 16, and not for example to 15 as in Mexico, or 18, the general marriage age in the United States.  --Lambiam 20:54, 26 January 2023 (UTC)

Looking at Newspapers.com (pay site), I'm seeing the expression "sweet sixteen" as far back as the 1820s, in both the British Isles and America. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 21:21, 26 January 2023 (UTC)

It may be relevant that the Age of consent is 16 in the UK, and in many US states. It has been 16 in the UK since 1885, except for Northern Ireland between 1950 and 2008. Age of consent reform in the United Kingdom. ColinFine (talk) 22:34, 26 January 2023 (UTC)

This is spitballing and not based on any research but 16 is the driving age in the US, at least. - Purplewowies (talk) 00:07, 27 January 2023 (UTC)

The rules vary from state to state. For example, some places require you to take a driver education course if you're to get a license before age 18. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 05:03, 27 January 2023 (UTC)

There's the old song "Sweet Sixteen and Never Been Kissed", which sort of suggests that 16 is the age by which a girl can generally be expected to have been kissed. Not an earth-shattering event in the overall scheme of things, but pretty important in the life a girl of 16. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 10:51, 27 January 2023 (UTC)

Historically, "middle teens" is usually considered an important coming of age milestone for girls. While "sweet sixteen parties" are a thing among certain demographics in the U.S., you also have the tradition of the quinceañera in much of Latin America. These kinds of traditions often date from a time period when the transition from childhood to adulthood was considered younger than in modern times; 15 or 16 was considered an age when a person reached sexual maturity, and were thus ready for marriage. That's what made someone "an adult". This kind of thing can also be seen in other similar traditions such as the Debutante ball, etc. The meaning of all of these is clear: It signified that a female was no longer too young to court, and was now "on the market" if such a crude phrase can be used. --Jayron32 13:17, 27 January 2023 (UTC)

It's alliterative. "Sweet fifteen" just doesn't cut it. (In American college basketball, final four is also good, elite eight, not so much.) Clarityfiend (talk) 23:25, 28 January 2023 (UTC)