A bat mitzvah is a coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish girls when they reach the age of 12 or 13. This ceremony marks the time when a girl becomes a Jewish adult and is responsible for her own actions. In Orthodox communities, a bat mitzvah is celebrated when a girl reaches the age of 12. However, in most non-Orthodox congregations, all children mark symbolic entry into Jewish adulthood through bnai mitzvah (bar or bat mitzvah) at age 13. It is worth noting that while the traditional age to hold a bar or bat mitzvah is 13 for boys and 12 or 13 for girls, some adults choose to have a bar or bat mitzvah if they did not have them as children.