Coming of age

When boys reached the age of 15, they would have a 'coming of age' ceremony that signified they were now a man rather than a boy. Until this, Roman boys had to wear a white toga (the name for a Roman robe) with a purple edge. This showed that they were a child, and could not do adult things like go to bars or vote. In the coming of age ceremony, the boy would take off his old robe and put on a new, plain white adult's toga. The whole family and all of their friends would then walk through the town to the Forum where the boy would be congratulated and officially added to the list of 'citizens', adults in the town who could vote. He was now a man, and everyone would return to the family home for a party to celebrate.