Homecoming is one of the most anticipated events of the entire school year with sometimes thousands of students and staff coming together to celebrate their school and community.
While the origins of homecoming are debated, it has been widely believed for many years that this tradition was first celebrated at University of Missouri-Columbia in 1911. A rule that college teams had to play on a school campus arose, and in order to bring attention to the new location, athletic director Chester Brewer encouraged Missouri-Columbia alumni to “come home” for a football game between the Missouri Tigers and Kansas Jayhawks. These two teams were one of the first college football rivalries from their first game in 1891 up until 2012 when Missouri’s athletic conference changed. The idea of homecoming was a success with over 10,000 alumni returning to celebrate a tie game of 3-3.
This was believed to be the first annual homecoming centered around a parade and an American football game.
A much smaller school, however, has also staked a claim in the birth of the homecoming tradition. Baylor University took part in a parade, pep rally, and gathering of alumni in 1909 which are all classic elements of today’s homecoming celebrations.
Later on, new traditions were added. A homecoming dance, spirit week, and coronation were soon included. High schools even began adapting the tradition into the school year, making the festivities a high point in the football season. Traditionally, the dance is open to all students and is characterized by either semiformal or casual attire.
The first homecoming in St. Cloud took place in 1925 at SCSU, but since 2010 it has been cancelled until its return this year. At Technical High School, however, students have celebrated homecoming for decades.
The tradition of homecoming and its festivities has been a captivating and memorable event to many for close to a century. Here’s to another century of celebration and spirit!
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