The history behind homecoming originates from football games held at colleges, universities, and high schools since around the 19th century. Many schools, including Southwestern, Baylor, and Illinois, claimed they held the first modern homecoming.

Homecoming is important to teenagers all over the U.S. and is quite possibly the most important football game of the season and a night many girls spend weeks, maybe even months, getting ready for. Young boys and girls gather all their confidence and make sure they have the perfect proposition, so that they may get to go to the homecoming dance with their lucky person.

In the early years, homecoming celebrated the season’s first football game allowing alumni to come back and visit campus. Through the years, homecoming has evolved into a social event that allows students to dress in nice clothes and go to a well-supervised dance.

Today, homecoming has become an overriding and popular event. Being an American tradition, homecoming is about school spirit. Students show their school spirit by participating in the homecoming week themes and/or wearing school colors. Normally, the Friday before the homecoming dance, there is a football game. It always brings in an abundance of students who come to support their school and hope for that homecoming win. 

The day following, the dance begins. Homecoming attire is usually less formal than prom (dresses and tuxes), but nicer than t-shirts and jeans. Homecoming is nearly the equivalent of an adult cocktail party where the focus is on having fun.

Most homecoming celebrations have a queen and princess. To be a homecoming queen or princess, a person must be a high school student and voted for by their peers. Initial voting is done to select the homecoming court and then again to win the title of queen or prince. Homecoming queens and princes are usually well-respected and well-loved people in their school. However, students do not have to be future pageant competitors to earn this title.

In the end, homecoming is a significant moment for most students. So get out there, get a beautiful dress or suit, and go to homecoming.