As LAHS students enjoy a “Night in Greece” at Prom 2025, it’s only natural for the rest of us to reminisce about our own high school prom experiences. It’s a pretty universal reaction to reminisce about your high school prom. I certainly don’t mean to suggest that all of those memories are “the best” of your high school experience. Isn’t that why we often suggest to our offspring that they go to prom so that they can “have that experience to think back on in adulthood”?

Why Prom?

I think most of us at least know, on some level, that the shortened word “prom” comes from the word “promenade”, which definitely isn’t something most of us go around saying these days. According to that lovely device called AI: The word “prom” is a shortened version of “promenade,” a French word meaning “a leisurely walk, a walk for pleasure or display”. In the 19th century, “promenade” also referred to a formal march or parade, often used in elite social gatherings. The term evolved to describe formal dances, particularly those held by high school and college classes, and became shortened to “prom”. 

The key concept in the AI provided description is probably “a walk for pleasure or display”. In years gone by, a young woman would “promenade” in order to get the attention of a future husband. Thank goodness that’s not the focus of prom these days… Except, it sort of gets that way, doesn’t it? Nowadays though, we talk about school dances as a way to socialize. Any sort of social event is meant to provide a means of entertainment, but it’s also a way to get social experience. Better to make those big time social faux pas in high school and learn from them, right?

Okay, hopefully your prom experience in high school wasn’t that bad! But I do think the idea of school dances or “promenades” being an opportunity to meet new people and make memories has always been a thing. Certainly it brings to mind some of the first “school dances” here in Los Alamos.

In an earlier post, which you can find HERE, I talked about the girls of the Brownmoor School for Girls. This wonderful school was run out of the Bishop’s Lodge in the Santa Fe area. I can’t even begin to imagine the logistical nightmare of getting 30-40 teen girls from Santa Fe to the Los Alamos Ranch School before the age of modern roads and vehicles. Much less to get them here with all of their pretty prom dresses, their beauty kits, and who knows what else they needed to get ready!

And if any of you are wondering, NO! I’m not going to include one of my prom photos in this post! However, if you’d like to share one of yours, that would certainly be welcome. Feel free to drop one in the comments or in the comments of my Facebook post!

That’s probably the last piece of the AI wisdom I found really interesting: Over time, the meaning of “prom” expanded to encompass the entire event, including the formal dance, dress code, and often a significant celebration of a milestone like graduation.

I don’t think this was intended to suggest that there should be yet another “Graduation Prom”. Although Graduation is certainly a formal parade and includes a “promenade”. I think this is referring to the way we used to call it Jr/Sr Prom and typically students must be a Junior or a Senior to attend. These days, Los Alamos High School is holding Prom at Buffalo Thunder. The big venue is right in line with everything else about the modern “prom night” expectations!

Makeup, hair, custom dresses, and even “promposals” which can be far more elaborate than most traditional wedding proposals. Whew! Prom can really be a big event these days! By the way, if you’re like me and a bit nostalgic for prom in the 90s, check out this wonderful post from “Grown & Flown”. There’s nothing like thinking you got the perfect dress only to realize that your friend thought it was perfect too!

Once upon a time, the LAHS prom used to be held in Griffith Gymnasium each year and the Junior class was responsible for using their class money to plan and purchase decorations to “put on” the prom for the Senior class. I’m sure a significant portion of each Junior class would’ve much rather done something else with the money, but it was meant to be a “gift” of sorts and an early way to “pay it forward” as well. Although “Under the Sea” isn’t really all that far from “A Night In Greece” is it? What was YOUR favorite prom theme?

Regardless of whether or not you went to your high school prom, let’s all be happy for the Hilltopper Class of 2025 and hope the kids have a great night and stay safe! And when you’re ready to join our community on the hill, give me a call! There are some amazing homes here in Los Alamos for sale and this could be the perfect time to find your dream house!