Colleges Homecoming Traditions: A Century of Celebration and School Spirit

For thousands of graduates, fall signals a return to their alma mater for homecoming, an annual tradition in the United States that welcomes back alumni and celebrates the organization's existence. From alumni brimming with school spirit to current students seeking a festive occasion, homecoming season is marked by celebrations across US colleges and universities, typically in late September or early October.

Origins and Evolution

The tradition of homecoming traces its roots to alumni football games held at colleges and universities in the 19th century. The intense rivalry between the Missouri Tigers and the Kansas Jayhawks, known as the Border War, played a significant role in shaping the homecoming tradition. In 1911, Mizzou Athletic Director Chester Brewer invited all alumni to "come home" for the game against Kansas, which was to be played on the Mizzou campus in Columbia, Missouri, for the first time. The celebration included a parade and spirit rally with a bonfire, drawing nearly 10,000 alumni.

While several schools, including Baylor, Illinois, Missouri, and Southwestern, have claimed to have started homecoming, the University of Missouri is often credited with hosting the first official homecoming celebration in 1911. However, Northern Illinois University has one of the longest-celebrated homecoming traditions in the country, despite it not initially including an intercollegiate football game. Southwestern held its first Homecoming on Wednesday, April 21, 1909, in San Gabriel Park. Former students raised funds, provided housing, prepared and served a barbecue supper, and decorated the town buildings. In 1910, the University of Illinois held a weeklong homecoming celebration that concluded with an intercollegiate football game.

Core Elements of Homecoming

Homecoming is built around a central event, such as a banquet or dance and, most often, a game of American football, or on occasions, basketball, ice hockey or soccer. When celebrated by schools, the activities vary widely. However, they usually consist of a football game played on a school's home football field, activities for students and alumni, a parade featuring the school's choir, marching band and sports teams, and the coronation of a homecoming queen (and at many schools, a homecoming king). When attached to a football game, homecoming traditionally occurs on the team's return from the longest road trip of the season or the first home game of a season that falls after an away game. The game itself, whether it be football or another sport, will typically feature the home team playing a considerably weaker opponent.

Over the decades, homecoming events have combined a variety of traditions designed to boost school spirit among current and former students. A long-standing tradition includes the selection of a homecoming court. The court is a representative group of students that, in a coeducational institution, consists of a king and queen, and possibly prince(s) and princess(es). Generally, the king and queen are students completing their final years of study at their school (also called "seniors"), while the prince and princess are underclassmen often with a prince/princess for each grade. Recently, some high schools have chosen to add categories, such as Duke and Duchess, to extend the representation of students to include a category in which students with special needs are elected. Court candidates will be well-rounded, must exhibit leadership skills, and will possess the ability to work well within a team setting. Candidates should be influential in their involvement throughout their organizations and the University.

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Parades: A Showcase of School Spirit

Many homecoming celebrations include a parade. Students often select the grand marshal based on a history of service and support to the school and community. The parade includes the school's marching band and different school organizations’ floats created by the classes and organizations and most of the sports get a chance to be in the parade. Every class prepares a float which corresponds with the homecoming theme or related theme of school spirit as assigned by school administrators. In addition, the homecoming court takes part in the parade, often riding together in one or more convertibles as part of the parade. Community civic organizations and businesses, area fire departments, and alumni groups often participate as well.

Michigan State University's homecoming parade, with its cheerleaders, marching bands, vehicles decorated for local politicians and corporate sponsors, and participants in student clubs and organizations, speaks well of the school's spirit and community identity. Homecoming courts also often participate in parades, which they do by travelling in open wagons or on foot.

Football and Festivities: The Heart of Homecoming

At most major colleges and universities, the football game and preceding tailgate party are the most widely recognized and heavily attended events of the week. Alumni gather from all around the world to return to their alma mater, reconnect with one another, and take part in the festivities. Students, alumni, businesses, and members of the community set up tents in parking lots, fields, and streets near the stadium to cook food, play games, socialize, binge drink, and even enjoy live music in many instances. These celebrations often last straight through the game for those who do not have tickets but still come to take part in the socializing and excitement of the homecoming atmosphere. Sometimes during the school week, a picnic can occur.

Spirit Week: Days of Themed Fun

Throughout the week, many schools (particularly high schools) engage in special dress-up days, sometimes called "Spirit Week", where students are allowed to wear clothing suitable to the theme (e.g., 1980s day, toga day, roll out of bed day, cowboy day, nerd day, pirate day, meme day, Rat Pack Day, flannel Friday, What-not-to-wear Wednesday) leading to the homecoming.

Rallies and Bonfires: Igniting School Pride

Many schools hold a rally during homecoming week, often one or more nights before the game. At some schools, the homecoming rally ends with a bonfire (in which old wood structures, the rival school's memorabilia and other items are burned in a controlled fire). Many colleges and high schools no longer hold bonfires because of accidents that have occurred surrounding these events in the past.

Dances: A Time for Celebration

Some high schools and colleges in the United States have homecoming dances as part of their homecoming celebrations. The location of the homecoming dance varies from school to school. Suggested outfits for boys include slacks, button-up shirts and ties, which strike a balance between casual and formal. Girls can choose cocktail dresses or other short skirts. Because football and alumni activities are the focus of homecoming for college students, Prom is often scheduled for the evening. In addition, due to the many homecoming events, some colleges will hold homecoming dances the following night.

Competition and Community

At the high school level, students generally compete by grade level in events such as spirit days, parade floats, and powder puff football. The competition at the collegiate level is mainly between Greek-letter organizations and, to a lesser degree, residence halls. At most larger schools, fraternities and sororities compete on parade floats, house decorations, skits, talent competitions, and service events such as blood drives or food drives. This homecoming celebration brings everyone together, promotes interaction among students, and enhances competition within the organization and between classes. On coronation night, some schools play games between classes.

Homecoming Beyond Football

While most schools schedule their homecoming activities around football, smaller schools that do not have a football team may plan the annual event at another time of the year. In these instances, basketball, ice hockey or soccer serves as the "big boy game" for students and alumni. At schools without athletic programs, the centerpiece event is usually a banquet, where alumni are recognized.

Homecoming Across North America

Homecomings are rare in Canada, and typically only take place in high schools situated in the east of the country. Some universities in Canada are also known to host Homecomings, although these are rarely as high profile as in the United States. They generally take place in September.

Unique College Homecoming Traditions

University of Florida: Celebrates homecoming with 11 days of celebrations, including a 5K run, Gator Growl concert, a pageant, a multicultural talent show, a festival with local vendors, and a parade.
University of Miami: Students decorate the Spirit Tree, an orange fruit tree located on the school's campus.
Jackson State University: Themed homecoming celebrations with events like rave parties, block parties, fashion shows, and costume parties.
Texas State University: Holds a week of celebrations and events across the campus, bringing together students, faculty, and alumni. The most notable tradition is the Soap Box Derby, held since 1967.
University of Miami: The longest-standing homecoming tradition is the Boat Burning Ceremony, started in 1956.
University of California, Riverside: Has a giant, student-held bonfire before the game the next day.
Virginia Tech: The Game Ball Run, which started in the 1970s, involves Ranger Cadets running the football game ball around campus for a total of 100 miles.
University of Central Florida: Spirit Splash is one of the most anticipated and exciting events, where thousands of students rush into the Reflecting Pond to catch rubber ducks and T-shirts.
Covenant College: One of the standout events is Jazz on the Overlook, a live music event.
Howard University: The celebration includes iconic traditions like Yardfest, a massive concert.

Homecoming Royalty: More Than Just a Title

The members of the Homecoming Court hold very prestigious positions. As ambassadors and stewards of Arizona State University, the Homecoming Court will represent the University at a variety of events throughout the academic year, such as the Homecoming Parade and athletic events. Homecoming Royalty members are chosen based on their leadership qualities, achievement through their contributions and involvement and their commitment to Sun Devil spirit, pride and tradition. The Court selection process begins with an online application. Based on application scores and GPA, individual interviews are offered and conducted by ASU students, staff, and alumni. The scores from the application and interview are combined to determine who will be on this year’s Royalty Court.

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