A Brief History
Debutante Balls are traditionally a ball held in which 17-19 year-old girls from high society or traditional families in a city are presented to society. They are presented by their families alongside male escorts, and it is a time in which the girls are expected to make lasting memories and friendships. During the ball, every debutante performs a curtsy while her escort bows. This is done simultaneously as the debutante is announced and presented, and is meant to signify her respect to the elder generations in attendance.
In the earliest times, the Cotillion, or "Coming-Out Ball" was used to present girls as eligible to be wed, after reaching the legal age of 18. This is part of the reason why Debutante's wear the traditional white wedding gowns on the night of the ball. The reasoning behind the variation of ages of debutantes between the ages of 17-19 has to do with the time of year the Ball occurs. Balls are traditionally either in December or June, and so there is inevitably variation in ages amongst the debutantes. The specific age requirements and year of eligibility vary from Ball to Ball.
For instance, the Cotillion I was a part of--which took place in December--mandates that all debutantes are in their freshman year of college, thus ensuring that everyone is at least 18. As my birthday is in October, I was 19 on the night of the Ball, but many of my fellow debutantes were 18.
There are hundreds of Debutante Balls that take place all over the world and in nearly all major US city every year . Many of them are charity affiliated, though most nonetheless remain exclusive and girls are only eligible to be debutantes by invitation. Perhaps the most infamous Ball in the United States is the International Debutante Ball which takes place in New York City every year. The concept of a Debutante ball is more common and taken more seriously in the Southern states in the United States. The oldest debutante ball is The Christmas Cotillion in Savannah, Georgia, which was instituted in 1817.
In the earliest times, the Cotillion, or "Coming-Out Ball" was used to present girls as eligible to be wed, after reaching the legal age of 18. This is part of the reason why Debutante's wear the traditional white wedding gowns on the night of the ball. The reasoning behind the variation of ages of debutantes between the ages of 17-19 has to do with the time of year the Ball occurs. Balls are traditionally either in December or June, and so there is inevitably variation in ages amongst the debutantes. The specific age requirements and year of eligibility vary from Ball to Ball.
For instance, the Cotillion I was a part of--which took place in December--mandates that all debutantes are in their freshman year of college, thus ensuring that everyone is at least 18. As my birthday is in October, I was 19 on the night of the Ball, but many of my fellow debutantes were 18.
There are hundreds of Debutante Balls that take place all over the world and in nearly all major US city every year . Many of them are charity affiliated, though most nonetheless remain exclusive and girls are only eligible to be debutantes by invitation. Perhaps the most infamous Ball in the United States is the International Debutante Ball which takes place in New York City every year. The concept of a Debutante ball is more common and taken more seriously in the Southern states in the United States. The oldest debutante ball is The Christmas Cotillion in Savannah, Georgia, which was instituted in 1817.