At the end of the school year, a Prom (short for Promenade) is held throughout the United States and Canada. Schools may have a Prom for the entire student body, while larger schools may hold a Junior Prom for students finishing their Junior or 11th grade year and a Senior Prom for those finishing their Senior or 12th grade year. This end of the year dance is normally the most anticipated dance of the year, due to it being the last dance before the Senior class graduates. Although a Prom may be for Juniors or Seniors, many schools allow all classes to attend if they are accompanied by an upperclassman.
Attire for a school Prom is traditionally formal attire. Males often wear a tuxedo, consisting of dress pants, shirt, tie, cummerbund or vest and jacket. Females traditionally wear a formal gown. It is common for the males and females to collaborate on their clothing, making the males accessories match the female gown. Females often give a boutonnieres to their date that will match the attire, while the males give their date a corsage. A boutonniere is pinned to the jacket while a corsage is normally worn around the wrist.
A prom is normally held during the evening, although activities last must longer. Prior to arriving at the Prom location, couples normally gather and take pictures with friends. It is common for the couples to all meet at one home and take pictures. Throughout the United States, couples commonly arrive to Prom in a rented limousine. After Prom has ended, many attendees will attend an “after-party”. This type of party is often discouraged because there are not chaperones and patrons have traditionally been known to engage in under-age drinking or sexual activities.
During the actual Prom dance, couples are able to mingle with their friends, dance and enjoy their evening. There is also a Prom King and Queen announced at some point during the night. The King and Queen are normally nominated by fellow classmates, although they may campaign for the position. The weeks leading up to Prom may leave the hallways of the school plastered with posters advertising each person that is hoping to be that year’s Prom King or Queen. It is very common for the King and/or Queen to be highly active in the school extracurricular activities including sports. Throughout history there has been a misconception that the Prom King must be a part of the football team and the Prom Queen is a cheerleader. Although this is not entirely true, being a part of the highly popular sports and clubs will allow for the student body to know them better, giving them a better chance of winning the position.
Regardless of how a school decides to have their Prom, it will be filled with memories for all that attend. There is a lot of planning and preparation that takes place for a successful Prom. From picking a theme, getting a date and attire, decorating and all else that goes into a Prom, the memories will remain for the rest of your life.
