Ladies by Design Junior Debutante CourseCOORDINATOR CERTIFICATION

Touching Tomorrow’s Women Today

Module 3: The Debutante Tradition

History of the Debutante Season

Understanding Rites of Passage

Using Royal Titles

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Module 3: The Debutante Tradition

History of theDebutante Season

Most of the traditions now celebrated in the United States did notstart here, most them began in England. Presenting girls to societycame from the idea that girls of marriageable age should bepresented in a social setting in order to select a husband that issuitable.

Presenting young women to society began in the United States in1748 when 59 colonial Philadelphia families held “DancingAssemblies,” forerunner to the Debutante Ball. The traditioncontinues today throughout the United States with the majority ofballs being held from November thru January.

The season stated with the presentation of Debutantes to the Courtduring which the young lady bowed to the queen, thus the name St.James bow Parties followed this. It was hoped that at the end of theseason, a girl would have chosen a husband. Debutantes oftengraduate into society after a year of philanthropic, cultural, andsocial training in welcoming the Debutante into a world of civicresponsibility and social awareness.

After the Industrial Revolution, as the middle class grew and beginto earn large sums of money, aristocrats wanted their daughters tomarry into the new found fortunes of the middle class. Thetraditional ages for Debutante is between the ages of 18 and 21 yearsold. Most Debutantes are high school graduates and are currentlypursuing a college degree.

In the United States there are numerous social organizations andsororities that sponsor Debutante programs for young women.Identifying these types of organizations usually entails contactingtheir national officer to find out their rules and regulations. Thecosts for Debutante programs start around $1,000.00 plus the cost ofthe ball, social galas, and events in which Debutantes participate.Moreover, religious ceremonies and teachings are not traditionally apart of most Debutante programs.

UNDERSTANDING RITES OF PASSAGE

Though the Debutante Ball is the most recognizableform of presenting young women to society many othercultures mark their young women’s introduction to societythrough Rites of Passage. The idea of Rites of Passage givespermission in essence from a person’s culture based on theirbeliefs, practices, and traditions permission to be welcomedinto society as soon to be adult.

In the African culture, traditionally a young girl transitioninginto womanhood went through a Rites of Passage ceremonyafter receiving a lifetime of instruction from the elder womenof the village. In America, African American young women’stransition is often recognized with a Debutante Ball, aSweet 16 Party, or a big barbeque in the backyard. TheHispanic culture recognizes a young woman’s step intosociety with a Quincearnera. Quinceanera’s are grandevents that include dinner, dancing, escorts and often,religious ceremonies when the girl turns 15 years old.

These forms of Rites of Passage ceremonies have beenlong standing in American society. However, young womenwho do not fit into the mold of society women, or who lackthe resources to become a Debutante may have foundthemselves left to learn how to become a woman throughtrial and error.

This is not the will of God. All young women need guidanceand support but most of all, they need an example ofelegant women of God who are willing to help develop them.

The Ladies By Design Junior Debutante Course incorporatesthe tradition of society, charm and etiquette, which arethe Debutante portions and breaking cultural barriers byhonoring the tradition of Rites of Passage. With spiritualdevelopment as its foundation, the Ladies By DesignJunior Debutante Course seeks to develop young womenbeyond the social graces necessary to gain a husband, butit seeks to lead young women into wholeness in every areaof their lives.

Module 3: The Debutante Tradition

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UNDERSTANDING ROYAL TITLES

Royal Titles

Lady Defined

Using Royal Terms

ROYAL TITLESRoyal titles are English titles used to address royal subjects. In thebody of Christ, royal titles to differentiate between leadership and laypeople in the church. The tile of “Lady” is the title that will be used toaddress young women and ministry workers who work with theJr. Debutantes.

LADY DEFINEDA lady is a woman who is the counterpart of a lord; or, thecounterpart of a gentleman. A lady in Biblical or church terms isone who has a special relationship with the church. Throughoutthe course of Jr. Debutante participation, you will be referred toas Lady Given Name Surname(Lady Gloria Johnson).The young women will be addressed in the following manner.7-9 yr. olds are addressed Little LadyGiven Name Surname (Little Lady Jasmine Yates)10-12 yrs. olds are addressed Jr. LadyGiven Name Surname (Jr. Lady Jasmine Yates)13 -18 yrs. olds are addressed Young LadyGiven Name Surname(Young Lady Jasmine Yates)

USING ROYAL TITLESThe following royal names are used to addresspeople of nobility. When dealing with different cultures,it is important to know how to address them in a proper manner.

King/QueenThe highest title in England is, of course, King or Queen. The spouse

Module 3: The Debutante Tradition

Lady1. Woman of high social position. 2. A pleasant well-

bred woman or girl. 3. Wife. 4. A British Noblewoman used as a title. Definition taken from Webster’sNew Young American Dictionary © 1995 by Merriam-

Webster Inc.

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of a reigning monarch (or king) is either Prince Consort or Queen Consort.The King or Queen themselves are addressed Your Majesty or His/HerMajesty.

Prince/Princess is the next rank. Servants and others address “his/HerRoyal Highness” when formally referred to by others. Call a prince/princess“Your Highness.” Using a first name would depend upon the closenessof the relationship.

The wife of a Prince who bears no other title is known as PrincessPrince’s Firstname. The husband of a princess is not automaticallygiven a title, although the monarch may choose to do so. The childrenof a Prince are also entitled to the dignity of Prince/Princess.

Traditionally, since the time of Edward I, the first born son of the monarchis granted the title of “Prince of Wales.” The wife of the Prince of Walesis known as “Firstname, Prince of Wales.” Children of the Prince of Walesare known as “Prince/Princess Firstname of Wales.”

The eldest daughter of the monarch may be given the title “Princess Royal.”Young sons of the monarch are frequently granted titles.

DukeThe next rank is that of Duke/Duchess. The wife of a Duke is a Duchess.In the rare case where a Duchess holds the title in her own right, herhusband would not automatically share the title. A Duke or Duchessis called “Your Grace” by servants and the lower orders. Friends and socialacquaintances might call them “Duke” or “Duchess,” or by whatevername the individuals involved favor. Like all titles of lower precedence,the Duke might well be referred by his title’s name, i.e, the Duke of Avonmight be called just “Avon.”

Sons and daughters of a duke are known by the honorable title of“Lord Firstname” or “Lady Firstname.” The eldest son will frequentlyhold some lesser title given by tradition in the family to their heir.

Marquis/MarquessFor Regency set (1811-1820) books, either spelling might beconsidered correct, but “Marquess” appeared in common use onlyafter the Regency. The English pronunciation is “Markwiss,” The

wife of a Marquis is a Marchioness (pronounced “Marshuness”).Servants and lower classes would call this couple “your lordship”or “your ladyship.”

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Module 3: The Debutante Tradition

Fellow aristocrats would call the Marquis by histitle’s name. Children of a Marquis are known by honorifics “Lord Firstname” or“Lady Firstname.”

Earl/CountessIn Saxon times, the Earl was the highest-ranking nobility short ofroyalty, but the Normans added their new-fangled titles over the years.

In England, there are but four Earldoms where the title name is thesame as the family structure. The wife of an Earl is a Countess.

Servants and the lower classes would refer to the couple as“my lord/lady” or “your lordship/ladyship.” The Earl’s friendswill likely uses his title’s name.

All daughters of an Earl are entitled to the honorific “Lady Firstname,”but only the first-born is called “Lord Firstname.” Theremaining sons are “Honorable Firstname Surname.” The remainingsons are “Honorable Firstname Surname,” but the “Honorable” title isused only in written correspondence.

ViscountViscount is another new title adopted from the French. The wifeof a Viscount (pronounced Viscount) is a Viscountess. A Viscount isnot Viscount of anything – the title name is the family surname.

Servants of the lower classes would refer to the couple as“my lord/lady” or “your lordship/ladyship.” The Viscount’s friendswill likely use his surname.

Children of Viscounts are “Honorables,” an address usedonly in writing.

BaronThe term “baron” is rarely used in England. They are the ubiquitousLord Surnames. A baron’s wife is a baroness, and is referred to as LadySurname. She will be called “my lady” but his just “sir” to the servants.Children of barons are not entitled to honorifics. They are Misteror Miss Surname.

BaronetA Baronet holds a hereditary knighthood. He is not actually a peerof the realm, but a member of the gentry. He is known as SirFirstname Surname, and his wife is Lady Surname. She

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Module 3: The Debutante Tradition

will be called “my lady” but he is just “sir” to the servants.

Children of Baronets are not entitled to honorifics. They areMister or Miss Surname.

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Module 3: the Debutante Tradition