Proms wtf?

[Aintnothingbutaheartache]

Can someone please tell me what all this prom stuff is all about?!
I’m in UK so appreciate that if in USA for eg it has a different meaning.
All I see on MN is that kids are having proms left, right and centre, from nursery (scuse me!?) wtf?, then 11, 13 and onwards. It’s nuts!
Expensive outfits and worry for parents re drinking etc, I really don’t understand!

It's End of year parties but OTT Americanised.

It's the old style end of term school disco but with posher frocks, boys in DJs and more expense all round. Whether it's more fun than the old style do's is another question.

I thought proms were just for secondary school and sixth form leavers. They are so Americanized and many girls feel pressured to beg their parents to buy them expensive dresses from bridal stores. My prom was years ago and I was happy in a Lipsy dress and did my own makeup (I've always been pretty good at it). Some parents spent hundreds!

Mine only ever had end of school discos in their final year before moving off to secondary school. Then at the end of 6th form there was a prom.
It's competitive and it's bullshit. I didn't mind too much what mine did but FFS every year?