Origins of Homecoming
Homecoming first originated at the University of Missouri in 1910. According to The University of Missouri, Missouri’s greatest tradition started with football coach/sports director Chester Brown. Brown had invited the college’s alumni to “come home” during the football game. Later, it expanded to encompass week-long festivities that include a pep rally, football game, spirit days, and the eventual Homecoming dance.
Homecoming has become an annual tradition at many schools, correlated with a week of school spirit. Schools around the country noticed the excitement surrounding Homecoming, so now it is celebrated in high schools as well as in universities. Originally, Homecoming encouraged alumni to come back to campus; the event was intended to foster a sense of community in both current students and alumni.
Homecoming Royalty
According to the Vandegrift High School student newspaper, The Voice, Homecoming festivities gained widespread popularity by the 1930’s. It was then, after the shift to high schools, that Homecoming started to incorporate Homecoming courts and proposals in anticipation of the Homecoming dance.
According to the Greenwood High School student newspaper, The Daily Chomp, the first woman crowned as Homecoming queen was Betty Hall in 1941 at the University of Missouri. Then, in late 1968, the first African American Homecoming queen, Courtney Pearson, was elected at the University of Houston.
Homecoming court is the election of the school’s “royalty.” These titles are usually reserved for seniors, with the roles of Homecoming princess and prince reserved for underclassmen. Homecoming court is usually elected by the student body, and the tradition of nominating kings and queens started around the 1920’s in colleges.
Kings, along with queens, began to be crowned in 1977. In 2013, Marina High School crowned the town’s first ever trans-gender Homecoming queen. According to Time Magazine, Cassidy Lynn Campbell became the school’s first ever transgender Homecoming court nominee, and simultaneously its first ever transgender winner. Campbell holds honor to her title and continues to advocate against gender-segregation.
Mattress Racing at Ball State University
Every school has its own Homecoming traditions, but at Ball State University, things get a little unusual with one of the most unique events around: mattress racing. Teams of students race on mattresses mounted on wheels. This tradition has been part of Ball State’s Homecoming since 1980. The rules are simple: to compete, teams pay an entry fee and start building their rolling mattresses. Teams get creative, adding wheels and anything else to make their mattress as fast as possible. Costumes are a big part of the race as well; one team member must wear a funny costume. On race day, teams go head-to-head on a 100-yard course, racing against the clock. Prizes are awarded for both the fastest time and the best costume.
Homecoming Mums: Texas Goes Big
Meanwhile, in Texas, one of Homecoming’s standout features is the tradition of “mums.” The Homecoming mum tradition started in the early 1900s, inspired by the idea of giving flowers for special occasions. As schools began to establish Homecoming events, students started wearing chrysanthemums to showcase their school spirit. Eventually, these flowers transformed from basic bouquets into large, decorative pieces that could be customized to reflect personal style and identity.
University of Texas Coffin Race
The University of Texas holds an annual coffin derby to welcome new and old students back to their university. The school has been hosting this Homecoming tradition since the late 1960’s.
The race consists of groups of Students building homemade cars and racing them against each other. The racecar, or “coffin” is launched from a ramp at the top of a hill. Then spectators wait and watch for the winner until they press the brakes, gravity stops them or, last resort, safety hay bales.
HoCo at FC
Homecoming remains a widespread activity many students enjoy. At FC, Homecoming is an engaging way to bond not only as a class but as a whole school. For example, public Homecoming proposals, during the pep rally and other school sponsored events, have become a beloved tradition at FC.
Other traditions at FC besides the Homecoming Football game include spirit days, the Senior Sprint into the Pep Rally, Class Colors, and, of course, the Homecoming Dance.
Enjoying and participating in Homecoming festivities each fall is a great way to make friends and get involved with the student body for both new and old students.
