In the United States and Canada, a prom , short for promenade , is a formal (black tie) dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held at the end of junior and/or senior 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 the months of July and September since 1895 and now broadcast on the BBC.
The British synonym for the North American event would be Leavers' Ball , Leavers' Dinner , Formal or, informally, Leavers' Do . This is closer to the Australian description, although in the UK, most schools have called the above events proms in imitation of the North American tradition. In Canada, Ireland, and Australia the terms Grad or Formal are most commonly used and the event is usually held for those graduating high school or middle school. In Ireland, the event is also known as the Debs , which is derived from Debutante .
Details
Smaller schools may hold a school prom open to the entire student body. Large high schools may hold two proms, a junior prom for those finishing their 11th grade year and a senior prom for those who are graduating high school. When the junior and senior proms are combined, it is sometimes traditional to have the junior class plan, organize, and even decorate the venue for the prom. Proms are mostly attended by juniors and seniors, but some schools allow all classes to attend. This may require that the ticket buyer be an upperclassman. At some high schools, school administration may limit attendance to students of the hosting school or of nearby schools. In rare cases, alumni may attend prom with current students, but the school may place age restrictions on such prom participants.
The Junior and Senior classes may participate in fund raisers throughout the school year to reduce the cost of prom. It is estimated about 8 million girls attend prom in the United States each year. In America, the prom industry accounts for over $1 billion in annual sales to various retailers. Prom costs depend on factors including dinner, rented limo and assorted attire, and costs can easily run $150 to $3,000 and up.
Prom tickets are sold at school and are traditionally purchased by boys for the couple. They can also be bought individually. It is not unusual for people attending prom as friends to purchase a "couple's ticket." The cost of half of one couple's ticket is generally less than that of one for an individual.
Pre-prom activities will typically include a visit to friends' homes for group photographs.
A group of friends might rent a limousine to transport large groups to prom.
Common prom activities include (but are not limited to) dining, dancing, the crowning of a prom "king" and "queen," and socializing.
For high school proms in the United States, some communities hold "after-prom," an activity run by parents, teachers, and community leaders for prom attendees after the formal events. Post-prom may be held at a different location and might include raffles, games or a late night meals. Post-proms are organized to discourage after prom activities such as under-aged drinking and sexual activity. "Post-post prom" activities such as trips to local parks or amusement parks often extending well into the next day after the prom evening.
Some universities and colleges have proms as well, depending on the size of the graduating class in a faculty or department.
Prom Attire
Boys usually dress in tuxedos, sometimes paired with brightly colored ties.
Girls wear traditional dresses. They may purchase their prom dresses from specialized shops, boutiques,or internet retailers. There are many specialty labels selling prom dresses that release new collections each prom season. Some of the biggest labels include Mori Lee, Flirt, Precious Formals, Dynasty, Dana Mathers (Strangelove), Jovani, Sherri Hill (formerly a Jovani designer), Xcite, and Tony Bowles.
Despite the level of choice, one of the difficulties girls face when choosing a dress is the risk of wearing the same dress as another girl. Shops and boutiques have tried to deal with this problem by keeping dress registry books. These shops will use books to register the dress purchased against the name of the prom it will be worn to in order to avoid selling the same dress for the same prom{}. In 2009 this idea was taken a step further by the UK company Prom Royalty, who launched an automated online dress registry as part of their online prom dress shop.
Traditionally girls will also wear a corsage, given to them by their dates, and girls give boys matching boutonnières to be worn on their lapel.
Related social gatherings
Americas
In Canada, most schools have the same traditions as those in the United States, except Prom is only held for the graduating class. There is no prom held for Grade 11 (except in the province of Quebec, where grade 11 is the last year. ) It is strictly a ceremony celebrating students' graduation from high school.
In Argentina there are also proms or "fiestas de graduación" for students finishing their last year of high school. There are big parties for teenagers in local discos and graduates usually wear costumes to be identified from others. They usually hold formal dinners with parents too, but students dress formally.
In Costa Rica, alike many other American countries, the "Baile de graduación" is celebrated after finishing High School, where grade 11 is also the last year, it usually takes place before graduation, to celebrate, finally, the end of school. It's normally held in hotels or saloons with a dance-floor, music and dinner. It starts with the students walking through the dance-floor and dancing a waltz, the dinner comes after, and the rest of the night is taken by the dancing and celebration.
In Brazil, bailes de formatura are usual at the end of high school and at college graduation. There is no crowning of a "king" or a "queen," but evening gowns and suits are required. Family may or may not be included, and there may be a live band or DJ hired to command the music.
In Chile, proms, or "fiestas de graduación" (graduation parties), are usually held at convention centers or hotels after the "licenciatura," or graduation from High School. They can also be held after taking the PSU (Chilean University Entrance Exam) in December. Students are expected to dress formally. They are allowed to go with dates, friends, or relatives. They usually start with people dancing a waltz and then dinner. After the dinner, the parents leave, and the dance continues through the night into the next day. Food and alcoholic drinks are available during the party.
In Colombia many private schools usually have prom balls as well, usually consisting of a dinner, dancing, live music, and contests. They are usually held at hotels or clubs.
In Peru, proms—"Fiesta de Promocion"—are usually held at hotels, convention centers, or big residences. The dress code is formal. Some parents and teachers are often invited, but they don't stay the whole night. Dinner is served as well as alcoholic drinks and delicatessen. Breakfast is often served the next day, at around 6-7 am. There is a growing tradition to hold a "Pre-Prom" for the students in the class below the graduating class, and even a "Pre-pre-Prom" for the students in the class below that.
In the United States, some American Christian high schools and colleges that do not allow school-sponsored dances will host a Junior/Senior prom. Rather than the event being a dance, a banquet is held instead. Typically, students still dress in formal attire and even bring dates.
Europe
As described in the introduction, in Britain, such an event might be called a ball . However, the term "prom" has also become popular because of the influence of American movies and television. In the United Kingdom, a School Prom was unheard of until the late 1990s. It is believed to have start in Cambridge, where every school in the area had a special "School ball." As the idea proliferated throughout the UK, the name changed to a "School Prom."
In Austria, the last year in Gymnasium is celebrated with a ball (called "Maturaball") usually in January or February. This dance takes place before exams are taken. Normally, balls are formal. The students often invite their parents and other relatives to come to the ball with them.
In Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia maturalna večer , as graduation night, is the event held at the end of the senior year. It is similar to prom night in the United States.
In Finland the equivalent of the prom is called Vanhojen tanssit.
In France, some engineering schools, or universities, hold "galas," which are held as social events each year. School traditions, graduation dates, and other information influences when the events will be held. Galas are largely similar to prom, but different in that the attendants are not necessarily students. Faculties and company executives may be welcome. Depending of the size of the organization, the type of
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