What is the traditional candle ceremony for a Sweet 16 birthday?

Answer 1

Sweet 16 Candle lighting ceremony

The sweet 16-candle lighting is a ceremony where the birthday girl lights of total of 16 candles. She lights each candle in representation of someone who has made a difference in her life. As she lights each candle she can say who the person is and why they have made a difference in her life (May want to keep each one short, as she does have to mention 16 people) or you can listed the 16 people in her programs. The couples in the ceremony are referred to as the court of honor.

After the introduction of each couple in her court of honor, the birthday girl walks in with her escort (she should be wearing slippers and should not have on her tiara). As a gift to the audience, the birthday girl along with her court of honor presents 1-2 dance routines; traditionally they dance to one slow song and one fast song. There is a crowning ceremony done by the father and Godfather (or uncle), each will carry a small pillow, one with her tiara and one with her shoes (aka-glass slippers). There should be a chair or swing waiting for her to sit in to make a change from her slippers/sneakers into her shoes/pumps. The father and Godfather (or uncle) will assist in the changing of the shoes, and then they will crown her with the tiara. The father will escort her to the dance floor and present his daughter to the world as a young woman, who will then share in a father/daughter dance. After the father/daughter dance is the candle lighting ceremony. The audience sings happy birthday to the birthday girl. Then the party begins! Open dance floor and food/drinks for everyone.