Hey, it’s ya girl Bri here. And we’re shootin the breeze about one of the most exciting topics of the year: Prom! (:

Did you know the United States and Canada are the only two countries with the idea of prom? Prom has an intricate history in the United States, but do you know it’s history here?

The term “prom” comes from the word “promenade,” meaning a march of guests into a ballroom to announce the beginning of a formal event or ball.

While high school yearbooks did not include pictures of proms until the 1930’s or 40’s, historians believe prom existed in colleges since the 1800’s.

Early prom’s were meant to emulate Debutante balls, were women in white dresses were escorted into a grand hall by men in white gloves. This was meant to officially introduce them into the social dating scene and signify the becoming of a woman.

Junior and senior proms were usually held in hotel ballrooms or country clubs. The school gym were the sophomore and freshman dances were held was no longer acceptable.

Prom became the ultimate popularity contest, with people wanting to be the best dressed or have the fanciest ride to prom. Becoming “prom queen” was the ultimate mark of popularity and winning best couple at prom signified you had the best date.

In the early 1900’s, prom was a simple tea dance where high school seniors wore their Sunday best. In the 1920’s and 30’s, prom expanded into an annual class banquet were students wore party clothes and danced afterwards.

During the 1950’s, proms became more extravagant, bearing resemblance to the proms we have today. The 1960’s and 70’s were a falling point for prom, with more teenagers being more interested in rallying for anti war and civil rights than conforming to something their grandparents had once attended.

The 1980’sand 90’s saw an increase in money from the economy, and prom became a huge hit once again.

As cultural morels have changed, so has the prom, while going stag once was social suicide, Now it’s part of the norm, with some kids attending by themselves or with groups of their friends.

In 1994, an Alabama school principal was sued for threatening to cancel the prom if interracial couples attended.

And despite the two South Dakota boys who in 1979 became one of the first known same-sex couples to openly attend a prom, some schools still have anti-gay bans in place.

Also, in April, a Mississippi school district canceled its prom rather than allow a student to bring her girlfriend as her date.

While early versions of prom were not widely viewed as a big deal, they have become something that is looked forward to by almost every high school junior or senior in America. It is a fact that is has become a pinnacle of a girl or boy’s high school life, a hallmark moment, following only after a person’s high school graduation. So be sure to have that special night be perfect for you. (:

That’s all we have for today. I’m Brianna, and thanks for shootin the breeze with me about prom. See ya. (: