Homecoming
People, towns, high schools and colleges come together, usually in late September or early October, to welcome back former members of the community.
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.
[5] In 1891, the Missouri Tigers first faced off against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first installment of the Border War, the oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi River.
The intense rivalry originally took place at neutral sites, usually in Kansas City, Missouri, until a new conference regulation was announced that required intercollegiate football games to be played on collegiate campuses.
The event was a success, with nearly 10,000 alumni coming home to take part in the celebration and watch the Tigers and Jayhawks play to a 3–3 tie.
The Missouri annual homecoming, with its parade and spirit rally centered on a large football game is the model that has gone on to take hold at colleges and high schools across the United States.
[10] Although it did not initially include an intercollegiate football game, Northern Illinois University has one of the longest-celebrated homecoming traditions in the country.
[11] Although it did not include an intercollegiate football game, Southwestern held its first Homecoming on Wednesday, April 21, 1909, in San Gabriel Park.
Former students raised funds, provided homes, prepared and served a barbecue supper, and decorated the town buildings.
[12] 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).
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.
Sometimes, the big announcement comes at a pep rally, school assembly, or public ceremony one or more days before the football game.
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.
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.
Many colleges and high schools no longer hold bonfires because of accidents that have occurred surrounding these events in the past.
The most well known accident took place in 1999, when 12 students were killed and 27 others were injured at Texas A&M University when a 40-foot-tall (12 m) pile of logs that had been assembled for a bonfire collapsed.
Because football and alumni events are the focal points of collegiate homecoming, dances often take place during a different week when schedules are more permitting, or not at all.
In these instances, basketball, ice hockey or soccer serves as the "big boy game" for students and alumni.
Homecomings are rare in Canada, and typically only take place in high schools situated in the east of the country.
Upper Canada College also has a longstanding homecoming tradition, although the event is referred to as "A-Day" (Association Day).
