Permalink
"Hey grace! I was wondering do Germans have proms like in the US? If so, what grade(s) do they have them in? I am just wondering because it sounds very interesting lol"
Love Always, Anonymous
Well, they have a sort of prom thing called the “Abiball” or “Abschlußball” for the 12th grade (or 13th grade, because some German schools go up to grade 13). It’s MUCH different than the US though.
For my school here, they are transitioning out of the 13-year school program, so right now we have a group of 12th graders and a group of 13th graders graduating in the same year.
Prior to the year of graduation, students throw these parties called “Stufenfesten.” It’s called a “Stufenfest” because, rather than revering to the 11th grade as the 11th grade, they call it the “Kursstufe.”
The grade is split up into two “Kursstufen” at my school. Each one consists of a certain number of students. Now, the students from each “Kursstufe” throw these “Stufenfesten” to raise money for their “Abschlußball” in the 12th (or 13th) grade.
Still following me? Good.
Now, if a “Kursstufe” does not raise a lot of money, they will have a lame “Abschlußball.” If they barely raise any money, they won’t have one at all. That’s why they make these “Stufenfesten” as appealing as possible. They throw them at nightclubs with popular DJs and a mass of alcohol to get the teenagers to actually attend. The entrance fee is usually 3.50€ and the average cost of a drink there is 3€ depending on what somebody is drinking. If each person that entered bought one 3€ drink, the students throwing the party would make a profit of about 3€. These parties are usually packed full with way over 100 people, so you can do the math and see how much money these parties bring in.
Once enough money is raised, the students work with the teachers to plan the “Abschlußball.” From that point on, it’s pretty much like a prom. They don’t have any “prom royalty” though. And they usually have at least one dance that’s rehearsed. As in, the students take dance courses in the 9th grade to learn their dance for the “prom.”
I should mention that this is how my school does it. It could be totally different somewhere else. I wouldn’t be able to tell you! I suggest asking people who are living in other parts of Germany. They may be able to tell you otherwise!
My name is Grace. This is going to be all about my preparation for and my adventures in Germany. I was selected as one of the CBYX scholarship winners to spend a school year in Germany. To find out more about the scholarship you can click 