prom dresses

In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is used to describe a formal dance held at the end of the high school academic year. In the United Kingdom, the term is more widely understood to be in reference to a season of classical concerts or "proms", which have been held between July and September since 1811, today run by the BBC. The British synonym for the North American event would be Leavers Ball, or Leavers Dinner, closer to the Australian description (see below.)

While proms at smaller schools may be open to the entire student body, large schools may hold two proms, a junior prom for those finishing their 11th grade year and a senior prom for those who are finishing their high school years. The name is derived from the late nineteenth century practice of a promenade ball. The end of year tradition stemmed from the graduation ball tradition.

Boys usually dress in black tie (a dinner jacket and bow tie), sometimes with brightly colored cummerbunds or vests, though any sort of formal wear can be worn. Traditionally, girls gave boys matching boutonnieres to be worn on the tuxedos. Girls traditionally wear formal gowns or dresses adorned with a corsage given them by their date. Often, boys and girls will dress according to the theme of the prom - e.g. pastel suits for a Miami Vice-themed prom.

Common prom activities include dining, dancing, the crowning of a prom King and Queen, and socializing. In some cases, high school students accumulate funds for their class prom through fundraisers over the four years they attend their high school. High schools in or near large cities may rent ballrooms at expensive hotels or, to be unusual, venues such as a pleasure cruise boat. Many students group together to take limousines to their proms. Often costs are cut by using the school gym, which challenges the decorating committee to somehow mask the gym odor and drab surfaces. Music played during the dance portion of the event is normally the genre(s) most popular with the attendees.

Many high school students feel that prom is the most romantic night of their lives. They may go in a group that includes a person they have known for years; other times, students just try to find a date that they like. Many find it to be just as fun to attend with friends, not worrying about the dating aspect of the prom. The occurrence of inappropriate conduct and occurrence of violence or alcohol/drug abuse is common though discouraged.

Some universities and colleges have proms as well, depending on the size of the graduating class in a faculty or department.

Prom King and Queen

A Prom Queen is a woman who is elected to be, as the name suggests, queen of the prom. She becomes Prom Queen by her fellow students casting votes and electing their queen. Although the Prom Queen is usually the most popular girl, any student from class is eligible to be voted. The Prom Queen is partnered with a Prom King who is elected similarly. They both have a Prom King and Queen dance to celebrate their election.

Smaller schools may omit this event for the strife it can cause between the more tightly knit students.

Related Social Gatherings

Some American Christian high schools and colleges that disallow school-sponsored dances will host a Junior/Senior. Rather than dancing being the main planned event, a banquet is served. Typically, students still dress in formal attire and even bring dates. The tradition of Junior/Senior is popular at small Christian colleges such as Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky and Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois.

As described in the introduction, in British English, such an event might be called a ball, although in Australia, and New Zealand it is also often called a School Formal as well as a Ball. In Australian schools the terms used are either School Formal or sometimes as Leavers' Dinner or Debutant Ball, usually so when the night includes a meal.

In Sweden it is known as a studentbalen, while in Ireland it is known as a debs (an abbreviation of debutante ball). In the U.S. a "formal" is typically a similar dance that is held by a fraternity or sorority affiliated with a certain college or university. In Australia, the term "prom" has also come into sparse usage and in Britain it is becoming widespread, because of US influence, especially the influence of American movies and television.

Germans will celebrate the Abifeier after graduating from the Gymnasium. The final exam in the Gymnasum is the Abitur and contributes the first half of the name. A feier is a party or more formal festivities.

In South Africa the equivalent is a Matric Dance, taking place during the matriculation (i.e. final) year of high school. The tradition is, however, very similar to the American one.