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Prom Season-The Rites of Spring
By Wauwatosa Public Library
Thursday, May 15 2008, 12:17 PM
Spring gardens aren’t the only places you find bright colors in May; it’s prom season at high schools across the country. As one of the first formal events in the life of a teenager, the high school prom is considered a vital rite of passage to becoming an adult. Proms today can be lavish, elaborate events that involve limos, hotel ballrooms and dresses worthy of any red carpet.
However, they didn’t start out that way. High school prom (short for promenade, meaning a march of the guests at the beginning of a ball or other formal event) became popular in the United States in the 1930s and 40s. At the beginning, a prom was a simple affair; students would wear their Sunday best for tea, socializing and dancing. In the 1950s, automobiles and fancy prom dresses became much more important, as did the social status of the members of the prom court. Prom night became a significant picture taking event as well, similar to a graduation or a wedding, marking an important step in a young person’s life.
Although some of the social rules about proms have changed, for instance, groups of teens will sometimes go together instead of the traditional boy-asks-girl arrangement; prom remains a major event in the social life of high school students. It can also be a major expense. The average prom couple can spend close to a thousand dollars for a dress/tux, dinner, flowers, hair and nails, limo (a stretch Hummer has become a favorite!), tickets, and after-prom parties. The hot fashion tips for 2008? Traditional tuxes for the guys, with vest and tie matching their dates’ dress. For the ladies, bold colors or metallics, beading or sequin detailing and beaded corsage wristlets that double as bracelets after the prom.
Prom 2008 at Wauwatosa East and West is coming up May 17th. Watch for the stretch Hummers!
