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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 referance 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 tuxedoes. Girls traditionally wear formal gowns or dresses adorned with a corsage given them by their date. Often times, 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. Because of the age of the attendees, parents, teachers, or others usually act as chaperones for the prom and after-prom activities. The use of chaperones is intended to prevent the occurrence of violence or alcohol/drug abuse.

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.

In recent years, many schools have done away with the crowning of King and Queen (e.g. most school districts in Montgomery County, PA). Thus, more emphasis is placed on the Homecoming King and Queen.

However, some schools find the institution of Prom King and Queen to be outdated and unnecessary, and have done away with both Prom court and Homecoming court altogether. They still succeed in providing a genuine and legitimate prom experience for the students. This experience has proven that indeed, Prom and Homecoming courts are not necessary to ensure the quality and legitimacy of the respective school dances.

Related Social Gatherings

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 Abiball after graduating from the Gymnasium.

See also

• Anti-prom
• Carrie, a Stephen King novel, where 'Carrie' wreaks revenge on prom night
• Debutante Ball, Irish prom
• Studniówka, or Polish prom
• Vanhojen tanssit, or Finnish prom
• Charitable Prom Organizations

External links

• The World's Best Prom - A Documentary
• Choosing The Right Prom Dress
• the prom expert
• A history of proms in the U.S.
• Prom dress flattery tips and tricks
• Prom
• Pre-Prom Planning (Organizations across the country that provide free prom attire to youth that may not otherwise be able to afford it)
• Samples of prom dresses from a noted european dressmaker

• American culture
• Dance culture