The first Chinese American Debutantes in 1990
1990 年第一屆華裔閨秀及笄禮首次亮相
The Chinese American Debutante Guild was conceived by the Asian American Senior Citizens Service Center (AASCSC). Embracing the old Chinese philosophy, “Care for elders as if they were your own elders”, AASCSC was founded to serve the growing population of Asian-American elders in Orange County. Through the Guild members’ fundraising efforts, the AASCSC opened its doors on July 13, 1991.
To most Chinese Americans, the word, “debutante” is still foreign. Few have ever attended a “cotillion” program. The Guild members were mindful that Chinese American students were lauded for academic success, but they needed to adopt aspects of American culture— volunteerism, charitable works, community service, social engagement, etc.—to round out their personalities.
The debutantes and their escorts were therefore encouraged to arrive at a sound balance of academic and social skills.
On December 29, 1990, an unprecedented event took place in the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. Twenty-one (21) young women became the first Chinese American Debutantes. NBC’s Jane Pauley featured this groundbreaking event on her national show, “Real Life with Jane Pauley.” Ellen Appel of the Orange County Register similarly praised the ball as a “social first.” In addition to local media such as the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times, the event attracted large-scale coverage by Chinese and mainstream media. For many Guild members, the event represented both social and cultural assimilation. It also demonstrated their ties to Chinese values. Everyone who attended was a witness to a historical event that melded traditional values with the dominant culture in the pursuit of the American dream. (Written by Sarah Mar)
The 2001 debutantes and their escorts
第五屆歲寒展妍晚會的華裔閨秀和她們的護花使者
Winter Blossom Ball strengthened the community by bringing generations of Chinese Americans together
歲寒展妍晚會連結老、中、青三代華裔，合力為亞美老人服務中心籌款
橙縣三個社團人士在 1990 年提出成立亞美老人服 務中心的構想，落實「老吾老以及人之老」的 儒家思想。華裔閨秀及笄禮協會應運而生，目的就是 為成立此服務中心籌款。
美國華裔首次採用西式成年禮，為一個計劃中的 老人服務中心籌款，此舉引起社區極大回響。西式的 籌款晚會，又結合中華民族傳統的美德，將華人的形 象自學術上的成就，轉變到服務社會，構想獨特，別 出心裁。因此活動的籌劃一經披露，立即受到新聞媒 體的重視，從加州的洛杉磯時報到香港的亞洲時報都 派記者遠道專訪，令主辦單位大感意外。
「閨秀及笄」譯自 Debutante。此成年禮習俗發源 自十八世紀的歐洲，類似中國少女成年禮「及笄」， 或男子成年禮「束冠」。不同的是，中國的及笄少女 仍深居閨中，西方少女成年禮結束後，正式踏入社交活動。參與的少女需要進行一整套儀容、姿態、談吐 舉止、交友之道的訓練。
美國社交名人多有此經驗，媒體稱前總統甘乃迪 夫人為及笄禮之后，尼克森總統的女兒也出現在 1964 年紐約的及笄禮舞會上。
首屆華裔閨秀及笄禮慈善舞會，主席是丁鄧雲 燕，舞會名為 Winter Blossom Ball，書法家王亦令將 之譯為「歲寒展妍」。「歲寒」象徵年高德劭的長者， 「展妍」代表青春年華的少女。
這個活動在籌劃階段就受到新聞媒體的重視， NBC 的 Jane Pauley 在她的全國性節目介紹了這個開創 活動，PBS 也把華裔及笄禮放在「我的美國-My America」紀錄片上，在美國主流媒體上仍不常見到聚 焦亞裔的年代，華裔閨秀及笄禮展現華裔追求美國夢過程中，巧妙融合東方與西方傳統的創意，也肯定移 民對美國社會的貢獻。
華裔閨秀及笄禮協會邀請的少女和護花使者都就 讀於知名大學。首屆「歲寒展妍」晚會在安那罕迪士 尼樂園酒店舉行。身著黑色禮服的父親，引領著白禮 服盛裝的少女，一一穿過松枝鮮花的拱門，隨著音樂 聲響旋轉。兩旁微笑的護花使者從父親手中接過少 女，輕步帶入舞池。
「歲寒展妍」晚會是中西文化的融合，華裔閨秀 及笄禮協會的成員替雙重文化教育下的中華兒女做了 一個歷史性的見証。這項晚會在 1990 年到 2000 年期 間總共舉辦五次，成功為亞美老人服務中心帶來上百 萬元的捐款。 （馮竹悅撰文）