National Promposal Day is a holiday observed on March 11th every year, designed to encourage people to get creative with their promposals. What’s a promposal? It’s an elaborate way for one person to ask another to attend the prom with them. Students are encouraged to share pictures of their formalwear on social media on this day, allowing everyone to see what they’re wearing to the prom.

The History of National Promposal Day

In response to the decline of the prom and formalwear business, Men’s Wearhouse created this holiday on March 16, 2016, through a press release. The promposal is a concept students have been practicing since at least 2000, making it fitting to celebrate with an official holiday.

A Brief History of Proms

Proms officially began in the 19th century as promenades—a formal event that allowed students to wear the latest fashions while parading around their peers. It grew in popularity over the years, becoming an American institution by the 1930s.

Although proms gained popularity between the 1800s and the 1930s, they were initially small celebrations. It wasn’t until after World War II that proms became more elaborate. Then, in the 1960s and 1970s, proms began to lose some of their popularity. However, they regained popularity in the 1980s and have been growing in popularity ever since.

Some Interesting Facts About the Prom

Since National Promposal Day is about celebrating the act of asking someone to the prom, here are some interesting facts learned while researching this holiday:

• The average girl will try on 10 prom dresses before choosing the one she likes best.
• 62% of people who attend the prom take home a memento of the evening.
• The average promposal costs $350.
• Most girls spend 3 months shopping for their prom dress.
• Corsages were originally invented to be worn around the waist.
• The average prom costs over $1,200.
• The prom industry is a $4 billion industry.

Observing National Promposal Day

National Promposal Day can be celebrated in various ways. You can watch promposal compilations online for inspiration, take pictures in formalwear and post them on social media using the hashtag #NationalPromposalDay, or simply execute one of the best promposals of all time.