Homecoming is called “homecoming” because it was originally the event where former students, alumni, came back, or “came home,” to their school. The name was coined in the early 1900s when American colleges began inviting graduates back to campus for football games, reunions, and celebrations.
The word itself combines the Old English roots of “home” (hām, meaning a place of belonging) and “coming” (cumen, meaning to move toward). Put together, it quite literally describes what the event is - a return to a place that once felt like home, which is why the name has stayed unchanged for over a century.
But there’s more to the story behind why it is called homecoming!
If you’re wondering about the full event itself, including traditions and what happens during the week, you can explore what is homecoming in more detail.
What Does the Word "Homecoming" Actually Mean?
The word “homecoming” is made up of two simple parts: “home” and “coming.” Taken literally, it describes the act of returning home, which is why the term feels so straightforward and easy to understand.
In a school context, “home” does not refer to a physical house. It refers to the place where someone studied, built friendships, and formed a sense of identity. For many students, their school becomes a second home, so returning to it years later is seen as “coming home.”
There is also an emotional layer to the word. “Homecoming” carries a sense of nostalgia, connection, and belonging that other event names do not quite capture. That deeper meaning is likely why the term has lasted for more than a century without changing.
Where Did Homecoming Come From? The Origin Story
Homecoming began at American colleges and universities in the early 1900s, when schools started inviting former students back to campus for major events. However, the exact origin is still debated, and that debate is more interesting than most people expect.
The three universities most often credited with creating the first homecoming are Baylor University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Missouri. Each has a strong claim, depending on how you define what counts as a true “homecoming,” which is why the question doesn’t have a single, clear answer.
Baylor University, 1909 - The Earliest Documented Event
Baylor University has one of the strongest claims because its 1909 event is the earliest documented version of what we now recognize as homecoming. In November 1909, the university sent postcards to alumni inviting them back to campus in Waco, Texas, to “renew former associations and catch the Baylor spirit again.”
The event took place over Thanksgiving weekend and included a band concert, class reunions, speeches, a parade, and a football game against TCU, which Baylor won 6-3.
Baylor also published an 82-page university document in January 1910 to record the event, which gives its claim strong historical support. The only catch is that Baylor did not hold another homecoming until 1915, so it was not immediately continuous.
University of Illinois, 1910 - The Longest Continuous Tradition
The University of Illinois makes a different claim - not necessarily the first homecoming ever, but the longest continuous tradition. In 1910, two Illinois students encouraged the university to hold an annual “homecoming” event where alumni and current students could come together and feel more connected to the school.
That first Illinois homecoming included a football game against the University of Chicago, baseball games, banquets, and several student activities. What makes Illinois stand out is that the school has held homecoming every year since 1910, except in 1918 during the influenza pandemic.
So, if someone asks why do they call it homecoming in the traditional school sense, Illinois is a big part of the answer because it helped turn the idea into an annual custom.
University of Missouri, 1911 - The Most Famous Claim
The University of Missouri has the most famous homecoming origin story. In 1911, Missouri’s athletic director, Chester Brewer, had a practical problem to solve, which was that the Missouri-Kansas football game was being moved from its usual neutral site in Kansas City to the Mizzou campus, and he was worried alumni would not travel for it.
His solution was simple. He invited alumni to “come home” for the game. More than 9,000 people attended, and the event included a parade, bonfire, and pep rally. Missouri became strongly linked to the origin of homecoming because this story was repeated for decades in popular culture, including on Jeopardy! and in Trivial Pursuit.
Even though the evidence points to Baylor holding an earlier documented event, Missouri’s story helped shape how many people understood the tradition. In the end, the debate matters less than the bigger pattern: around the same time, several American universities were creating events built around alumni returning to campus. That is why it is called homecoming, the tradition was always about coming back to a place people once belonged.
How Did Homecoming Move from Colleges to High Schools?
By the 1920s and 1930s, high schools across the United States began adopting the homecoming tradition from colleges, along with other campus customs centered around school spirit and community events. What started as a college-level reunion quickly proved to be something that could work at a smaller, local level too.
High schools adjusted the idea to fit their environment. Instead of large groups of alumni traveling back from different cities, homecoming became more focused on current students, recent graduates, and the surrounding community. Events were still centered around a football game, but they were paired with activities that brought the school together in a more immediate way.
By the mid-20th century, homecoming had become a standard part of the American high school experience. A 2023 YouGov study found that nearly half of Americans say they attended their high school homecoming dance, showing how widely the tradition has spread. Over time, different regions added their own unique elements. For example, Texas is known for elaborate “mums,” decorative corsages that have become a signature part of homecoming culture, alongside traditions like choosing homecoming dresses for the dance.
This shift from colleges to high schools is a big part of why do they call it homecoming today in everyday conversation. While the name originally referred to alumni returning, the tradition has evolved into a broader celebration of school identity, community, and shared experiences.
Why Is Homecoming an American Tradition?
Homecoming is considered a uniquely American tradition because of how schools and sports are structured in the United States. Unlike in many other countries, where sports are organized through independent clubs, American sports are closely tied to schools and universities. This creates a strong, lasting connection between students and the institutions they attended.
In the U.S., people often identify with their school long after they graduate. That sense of belonging makes it natural for alumni to return for events, which is why it is called homecoming - it is about coming back to a place that once felt like home.
Another key factor is American alumni culture. There is a long-standing expectation that graduates stay connected to their school, support it, and participate in traditions over time. This kind of ongoing relationship between individuals and their school is not as common in many other parts of the world.
FAQs
Why do they call it a homecoming?
It is called a homecoming because the original purpose of the event was to invite former students, alumni, to come back, or “come home,” to their school. The name directly describes that return. Over time, even though the event expanded to include current students and the wider community, the meaning behind the name stayed the same.
Who invented homecoming?
There is no single person who invented homecoming. Instead, the tradition developed at several American universities in the early 1900s at roughly the same time. Baylor University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Missouri all have strong claims, depending on how you define the first true homecoming event.
When did homecoming start?
Homecoming started in the early 1900s, with one of the earliest documented events taking place at Baylor University in 1909. Other universities followed soon after, including the University of Illinois in 1910 and the University of Missouri in 1911, which helped establish the tradition as an annual event.
Why is homecoming held in the fall?
Homecoming is held in the fall because it is traditionally centered around football season. In the early 1900s, colleges scheduled homecoming events around major home football games, which took place in autumn. The weather also made it a practical time for outdoor events like parades and gatherings, so the timing became standard and has stayed that way.
What is the difference between homecoming and prom?
The main difference between homecoming and prom is timing, purpose, and who attends. Homecoming happens in the fall and is open to multiple grade levels, often including freshmen through seniors. It is tied to school spirit, alumni return, and events like football games. Prom, on the other hand, usually takes place in the spring, is more formal, and is typically reserved for older students, such as juniors and seniors, which is why many students also look into the difference between prom and homecoming dresses when deciding what to wear.
What is the point of homecoming in high school?
The point of homecoming in high school is to bring the school community together. It celebrates school spirit, encourages participation in events, and gives students a chance to connect with each other outside of regular classes. While it originally focused on alumni returning, it has evolved into a broader celebration of identity, tradition, and shared experiences within the school.
Where does the term homecoming originate?
The term “homecoming” originates from the combination of the words “home” and “coming,” meaning a return to a place of belonging. It was first used in the early 1900s when American colleges began inviting alumni back to campus for events. The name reflected exactly what was happening, people returning to a place they once called home, which is why it has remained unchanged.
