ChatterBank3 mins ago
21st birthday???
14 Answers
why do we celebrate our 21st birthday.why not our 20th.why are all the other big birthday afterwards even?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Twenty-one was the age at which a person reached 'the age of majority', or, in other words, the right to vote. This was traditionally accompanied by the 'key of the door', meaning you were free to come and go. This, as advised, was seen as the transition from childhood to adulthood - shows how times have changed, and not just with the lowering of the voting age to eighteen.
Heathfield are you not reading and digesting answers? 21 was chosen because that is when you could do anything that and adult could do, what part of that don't you understand? There are various ages that certain things are allowed ranging from 16 to 21.
Do you mean "why is/was the legal age for whatever 18/21"?
Do you mean "why is/was the legal age for whatever 18/21"?
and deano cnt spell. 21 is specifically choosen because they used to say that u are mature enough to do the things a adult can do ( i also agree with everything that Andy-hughes says) . but this has changed now to 18 , and in some cases 16 (mistake in my mind) the problem is that some ppl arent mature enough at 21. so now its at 18 and 16... 18 maybe, but 16 sorry i have 2 disagree. especially with youth these days. i suppose the even year ages such as 40, 50, 60 etc are milestones, because way back when ppl where lucky to live till there thirties.
I am only guessing but I think that it is related to the old apprentice schemes of the 18th & 19th century.
Children were apprenticed to employers for a period of time for training and also a fixed period after training. I think that the total period before an employee could become a "freeman" was 7 years. Therefore 14 years plus 7 years apprenticeship makes 21 years and hence the reason why historically the 21st birthday was always celebrated.
Until a man was a "freeman" he could not vote, own property etc.
As I say I am only guessing, but I remember something along these lines from a history lesson many years ago.
Children were apprenticed to employers for a period of time for training and also a fixed period after training. I think that the total period before an employee could become a "freeman" was 7 years. Therefore 14 years plus 7 years apprenticeship makes 21 years and hence the reason why historically the 21st birthday was always celebrated.
Until a man was a "freeman" he could not vote, own property etc.
As I say I am only guessing, but I remember something along these lines from a history lesson many years ago.