Homecoming Traditions and History: A Celebration of School Spirit
Homecoming is an iconic American tradition, celebrated with excitement and anticipation by students, alumni, and communities across the country. It is an annual tradition in the United States. People, towns, high schools, and colleges come together, usually in late September or early October, to welcome back former members of the community. But what exactly is homecoming, and where did this tradition originate?
Defining Homecoming
The term "homecoming" suggests a return, a welcoming back of former students or alumni to their school or university to celebrate the organization's existence. This gathering is usually marked by festivities that revolve around school spirit and the shared bond between current students and past graduates. It 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.
Origins of Homecoming
Before homecoming found its way into high schools, it began in American universities, where a strong sense of school pride has long been encouraged. Many schools including Baylor, Illinois, Missouri and Southwestern have claimed that they began homecoming. The most common origin story credits the University of Missouri in 1911 as the birthplace of homecoming. The school's athletic director at the time, Chester Brewer, wanted to energize the student body and draw alumni back for a football game against their rival, the University of Kansas. The homecoming event at the University of Missouri included a pep rally, parade, and, most importantly, the big football game. This gathering was an immediate success, sparking similar events at other colleges across the country.
However, other institutions also lay claim to early homecoming celebrations.
- Southwestern University: 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. Although it did not include an intercollegiate football game.
- Baylor University: According to the 1910 Round-Up, a massive campaign of correspondence, advertising, and organization lured graduates to the celebration planned for Thanksgiving weekend. It was the announcement of Baylor's first Homecoming.
- University of Illinois: In 1910, the University of Illinois held a weeklong homecoming celebration that concluded with an intercollegiate football game.
The Spread of Homecoming
By the 1920s and 1930s, the concept of homecoming had made its way to high schools. These institutions wanted to emulate the traditions seen in universities, particularly those that fostered a sense of community pride. Homecoming was the perfect event to rally the community, bringing together students, alumni, faculty, and families. It allowed high schools to create their own traditions, with homecoming courts, parades, and dances emerging as staples of the event. The football game remained the central focus, serving as a metaphorical “battle” that showcased school pride and sportsmanship.
Read also: Homecoming Traditions Explained
Timing of Homecoming
Homecoming is traditionally celebrated in the fall, aligning with the beginning of the football season. First, fall marks the start of the academic year, making it an ideal time for students and alumni to gather and celebrate their shared connection to the school. Second, the fall sports season-particularly football-provides a natural focal point for the festivities. 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.
Core Elements of Homecoming Celebrations
Homecoming has grown into a complex event with multiple layers, all focused on fostering school pride and unity. 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).
The Football Game
At the heart of the celebration is the football game, which often features the school’s team playing a major rival. This game is not just another match; it’s usually the most attended game of the season. Nearly 5,000 people attended the football game, which was the final one of the season.
Pep Rallies
Pep rallies, which often precede the game, are designed to boost school spirit. Students gather in the gym or auditorium for speeches, performances by cheerleaders, and chants led by student leaders. 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).
Homecoming Court
One of the most popular traditions is the crowning of a homecoming king and queen. The backings 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). Typically, students vote for their peers to be on the homecoming court, and the winners are announced at halftime of the football game or during the dance. 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. Often, the previous year's king and queen are invited back to crown their successors. Usually, the queen is crowned first, followed by the king. Homecoming court members who are not crowned king or queen are often called escorts or royalty. They are often expected to participate in the week's activities as well.
Read also: Texas Homecoming Mums
The Parade
In many communities, the homecoming parade is a key event. 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. Baylor launched its first Homecoming parade from the corner of 11th Street and Washington Avenue. Parade entries numbered well over 130, with 60 each of automobiles and carriages, plus student organizations on foot. As it is today, the parade was led by law enforcement and the Baylor Band. The vehicles, it was noted, were "tastefully decorated with green and gold bunting and pennants; some automobiles were even profusely ornamented with yellow chrysanthemums." The entire city of Waco joined in, the Round-Up reported, with businesses and residences decked out in "extensive" decoration. "Thousands of people wore the Baylor colors, while hundreds of vehicles, the street-cars, and even the bicycles of the messenger-boys were ornamented with Green and Gold.
Homecoming Dance
Perhaps the most anticipated event for students is the homecoming dance, usually held the night after the football game. This semi-formal dance is where students dress up in homecoming gowns and suits, dance with friends, and celebrate the week’s events. Some high schools and colleges in the United States have homecoming dances as part of their homecoming celebrations.
Spirit Week
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.
Tailgate Parties
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.
Evolution of Homecoming
While the core elements of homecoming have remained consistent over the years, the celebration has evolved. Modern homecoming often includes additional activities like spirit week, where students participate in themed days leading up to the big game. Technology has also played a role in the evolution of homecoming.
Read also: Alumni Homecoming Speech Guide
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 in Canada
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.
The Enduring Significance of Homecoming
Homecoming is more than just a football game or a dance; it’s a celebration of shared history, memories, and pride. For high schools, it serves as a way to build school spirit, create traditions, and bring together past and present members of the school community. As long as schools continue to prioritize the values of community, pride, and tradition, homecoming will remain a cherished event. It connects generations, strengthens the ties between students and alumni, and reminds everyone of the significance of their time spent in school. The name itself, “homecoming,” encapsulates what the event is truly about-a return to a place where lifelong memories were made.
A Look Back: Baylor's First Homecoming
Baylor's first Homecoming offers a glimpse into the early traditions of this celebration. According to the 1910 Round-Up, a massive campaign of correspondence, advertising, and organization lured graduates to the celebration planned for Thanksgiving weekend.
The parade launched from the corner of 11th Street and Washington Avenue. Parade entries numbered well over 130, with 60 each of automobiles and carriages, plus student organizations on foot. As it is today, the parade was led by law enforcement and the Baylor Band. The vehicles, it was noted, were "tastefully decorated with green and gold bunting and pennants; some automobiles were even profusely ornamented with yellow chrysanthemums." The entire city of Waco joined in, the Round-Up reported, with businesses and residences decked out in "extensive" decoration. "Thousands of people wore the Baylor colors, while hundreds of vehicles, the street-cars, and even the bicycles of the messenger-boys were ornamented with Green and Gold.
The parade must have moved rather quickly because the football game started just 30 minutes later on Carroll Field.
The next Homecoming didn't occur until 1915, when the alumni association took over official sponsorship of the activities. Parts of the schedule--the morning parade, the afternoon football game, and reunion parties for classes--remain remarkably unchanged after nearly a hundred years.
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