The Relief Editor commented in yesterday's MMD, "I'm not sure American
readers are going to know what 'BBC Proms' are.  Are they dances like
our school proms?"

For a complete explanation and history see:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Proms 

The Proms are a series of concerts put on by the BBC every year at the
Royal Albert Hall in London.  The last concert in the series is known
as "The Last Night of the Proms" and ends with the singing of
traditional British patriotic songs such as "Jerusalem," "Rule
Britannia," and "Land of Hope and Glory."

Stephen Brickles

  [ "Proms" turns out to be short for "Promenades," as the Wiki article
  [ which Stephen cites explains.
  [ --Relief Editor.