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BirthMany people adhering to Western religions welcome a new-born child into the congregation or the community with a special ceremony, such as baptism for Christian children or a bris for Jewish males in religious families. Adult participants wear clothing appropriate for religious occasions. The child, in the Christian case, often wears a special christening robe. This white dress, worn by both males and females, is typically extremely long, so that the hem of the dress extends a meter or more past the infant's feet. The adult holding the child to be christened arranges the hem so that it falls free. The hem may be lavishly decorated with lace and embroidery. The christening robe thus serves as a display of wealth and status. Families may carefully preserve a christening robe to be used by several generations of infants.
Leaving nursery statusUntil the late 19th century, young Western boys and girls often wore the same attire: a dress. Unisex infant clothing made changing diapers easier and simplified the passing of garments from one child to the next. When a young boy had reached an age at which he could begin to train in manly pursuits, he would be dressed in pants rather than dresses. Before the 19th century, his clothing might be simply a miniature edition of adult wear. During the 19th century, men wore long pants and boys wore short pants. In current Western societies, even infant clothing may be marked for gender, and there is no such transition as the donning of the first pair of pants.
Reaching adult statusSome Christian churches welcome children reaching "the age of reason" into the congregation as adults in the ceremony of confirmation. Girls being confirmed typically wear pristine but modest white dresses; boys may wear suits or other formal attire. In the Catholic church, where the child may receive both First Communion and somewhat later, Confirmation, the attire is similar for both sacraments. In 19th century England, coming of age was also marked by a boy's wearing long pants instead of short ones, and girl putting up her hair, in a bun or chignon (hairstyle) , rather than wearing it loose down her back or in schoolgirl braids. In 18th and 19th century England, a well-brought-up girl was either "out" -- admitted to adult social occasions -- or "not out". Starting in the 18th century, it became customary to mark a girl's "coming out" with a special festivity, such as a ball in her honor. Wealthy families spent great sums of money on elaborate clothing, decorations, food and drink, etc. Late in the 19th century, it became more common for wealthy families to club together to sponsor a ball or cotillion at which many girls "came out" together, or made their debut. They were called debutantes.
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