Prom is a right of passage
Prom is more than just a dance. There’s more. It’s a part of a greater picture. This year, make Prom a priority, even if you have to get creative with how you go about it. Here are some of the reasons why Prom is such a big deal in high school.
For the senior class, prom night serves as a symbol of four years of learning, friendship, and school spirit, and it’s frequently the last time the entire class is all together before graduation. Prom, along with graduation, marks the conclusion of high school and the beginning of adulthood for students. It’s an experience that students will never forget.
Prom is a school tradition
Prom is the peak of high school tradition. Many schools have held their year-end Prom celebration since the school’s inception, and many have never missed one. Prom is a source of pride for students, and the memories will last a lifetime. If you ask anyone who has ever attended a Prom, they will most likely be able to recount every detail of the night, including what they wore, who their date was, the Prom theme, and so on. Prom is a big occasion, and it’s something that schools look forward to every year as a chance to say farewell to the Senior class.
Prom brings students together
Homecoming is traditionally thought of as the most significant event of the year for building school spirit, but Prom is just as crucial for bringing students together. It’s frequently seniors’ last chance to have fun with their friends, reflect on their high school years, and share memories before moving on to their post-high-school lives. It’s the season’s biggest social gathering, and the best chance for students to display their pride in their school and class.
How did prom even start?
Prom, short for promenade, “the formal, introductory parading of guests at a reception,” developed in the middle 1800s at schools and institutions in the northeast to encourage social decorum and graces in each graduating class. Early references to prom include a remark in an 1879 issue of the Harvard Crimson, which links it to the yearly Ivy League ritual of presentation week, during which formal attire and dancing accompanied a promenade performance. An 1894 diary entry from an Amherst College student who was asked to attend a prom near the women’s institution, Smith College, also mentions it. After a few years, high schools began to host proms.
These proms used to be hosted in college gyms, with senior classes convening for a couple of teas and beverages, mostly for mingling and dancing under crepe paper and in the eyes of chaperones. Since the 1930s, prom has been quite popular in America, with banquets and local bands becoming increasingly popular. Proms got more costly and sophisticated in the 1950s as Americans obtained more money and leisure time, similar to today’s proms. Sophom*ore dances (soph hop) may have been permitted in the high school gym, but junior prom and senior balls eventually shifted to hotel ballrooms and country clubs. Competition erupted as teenagers vied for the best outfit and mode of transportation and the best-looking date. Competition for the prom court also intensified, as the designation of “prom queen” became an important distinction of popularity.
FAQs
For some, it's a chance to dress up and have a fun night with friends. For others, it's an opportunity to create lasting memories before parting ways with classmates and entering adulthood. No matter the significance, prom is a special event that marks an important milestone in many people's lives.
Why is prom such a big deal in the US? ›
It's both a cultural rite of passage and a celebration of life for Black youth. As mentioned, the proms have their own rite-of-passage roots, being the event where young folks are essentially introduced to adulthood and to promote social etiquette.
What is the idea behind prom? ›
The word "prom" is short for promenade, which means a formal, organized march. The first proms were held in the late 1800s and early 1900s in Northeastern colleges and universities. These early proms were formal events that were intended to teach young men and women proper etiquette and manners.
What is important for prom? ›
Jewelry & Accessories – The perfect prom outfit is accessorized, so make sure to factor in any additional jewelry, a matching face mask, or other accessories within your prom budget. Tickets – Most proms sell tickets and, while students usually focus on the outfit, it's important to remember this cost as well.
What's the point of a prom date? ›
Taking a date to prom is a fun opportunity to bond with someone you've been interested in for a while, or to spend the evening with a longer-term partner.
What is the main purpose of prom? ›
Prom, short for promenade, is a semi-formal dance usually held toward the end of high school. It's a celebration and final send-off for graduating students before they embark on their next journey. Typically, prom takes place in late spring and is often considered a rite of passage for teenagers.
Is it a big deal if you don't go to prom? ›
Her advice: "Prom is not necessarily a defining or crucial experience in high school, and it's totally OK to skip out on that for whatever reason. Don't let anyone pressure you into going strictly out of fear that you'll regret it."
What are the cons of prom? ›
It can be fun, but you won't miss out much if you don't decide to go. May not necessarily be a bad thing, but some people let the fact they don't have a date ruin the night. Prom expenses can really add up when you add the cost of clothing, the ticket, a meal, and other activities to the equation.
What actually happens at prom? ›
Although prom in its precise definition is short for promenade dance—a formal dance party for high school students held toward the end of the school year—there are several other activities that typically take place on prom night, including group photo sessions, dinners and afterparties.
Why do Americans celebrate prom? ›
Prom was a way to celebrate the passage from adolescence to adulthood, to give students a meaningful, shared celebration at the end of their high school career.
It's a chance to celebrate the end of high school and the beginning of a new chapter in life. Prom can also be an opportunity to bond with friends, especially those who will be going away to college or the military after graduation.
Why do PROMs exist? ›
First held for the graduating classes of colleges and universities in the late-1800s, prom, short for promenade, was initially a way to teach manners and etiquette to the college senior students. Written by a male student at Amherst College, a journal entry was one of the first recordings of a formal prom in 1894.
Is it okay to skip prom? ›
One night in fancy clothes does not a high school experience make, and prom is not the “end all be all” of experiences that we have propped it up to be. For many teens (my son included) there are many more memorable days and nights in high school than prom night, and not wanting to go is neither abnormal or uncommon.
Is it appropriate to kiss at prom? ›
Sometimes less is more when it comes to public displays of affection (PDA). Hand holding, hands around the waist, and closed-mouth kisses are fine in moderation. Avoid open-mouthed make out sessions, touching in private areas, licking or biting, and groping.
Is it OK to not have a prom date? ›
Make sure your child understands it's common nowadays for groups of friends to go to dances together. Dates are no longer required. This is true even for formal occasions like prom. For kids who do bring a date, it's no longer an unofficial rule that teens have to hang back and wait to be asked.
Do guys ask girls for prom? ›
Usually students will go to the prom as a group, with the girls deciding who goes with whom. However, the guy still has to ask, often in spectacular fashion.
Is prom just an American thing? ›
Interestingly enough, most other countries do in fact have some form of prom or end of primary school celebration. Many countries hold their prom-equivalent in the winter which is considered “ball season”.
When did prom become a thing in the US? ›
When did high schools adopt proms? According to History.com, segregated white high schools introduced proms in the 1920s to show teenagers how to behave cultural norms and stereotypes of their gender — for example, women being subservient to men — and race.
How much do Americans spend on prom? ›
According to NBC, the average teen spends about $1000 on prom. So what can you save and splurge on for prom?
