Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Look Up//Look Down #42: Homecoming

Homecoming is a traditional celebration in American high schools, which takes different forms at different schools. At our high school, the celebration includes a week full of activities that culminates in a Friday night football games at which the Homecoming King and Queen are crowned. Alumni are invited back, but for our school, that's not a major part of the festivities.  The school does get decorated in pumpkins (including along the roof line), and the four classes (freshman, sophomore, junior and senior) compete in a variety of spirit competitions, including a skit, a dance/lip sync, a relay race and a mural that goes up in the gym.  The theme for this year's Homecoming was public service, and each class was assigned a group (freshman were doctors; sophomores were firefighters; juniors were police; and seniors were the armed forces).  I was really happy (and a little surprised) when Clara said that she had gotten a bunch of her friends to sign up with her to do the class mural.
For this week's look up//look down photo pairing, then, two photos from Homecoming 2013: looking up at the pumpkins on the roof line and looking down at the sophomore class mural in progress (the High School mascot is a cougar, in case you're wondering why there's a great big cougar in there!).
And I'm wondering, is Homecoming a tradition where you are? If so, how is it celebrated?

16 comments:

alexa said...

Wow, that is some mural! Clara and her friends are clearly very talented. This is the first time I have ever heard of HomeComing - I fear our crowded yet narrowly-focused National Curriculum would never have room for anything imaginative like this!

Amy said...

We don't have Homecoming either - in fact, at this time of the year it is full on with assessments and report writing about to begin for teachers as we near the end of the academic year ... 9 weeks to go.

helena said...

fabulous mural and I love all the pumpkins. No homecoming in Scotland either - thanks for the explanation as I've seen it mentioned before and never knew what it was. I don't think alumni ever return to state schools here

scrappyjacky said...

I'd never heard of homecoming either.The mural is really impressive.

Ladkyis said...

But why is it called Homecoming? when it is at the start of the School year and who gets to be homecoming Queen and King? and does it only happen in High school?
No Homecoming in Wales either. I have read references to it in novels and seen things in films but none explain where the term comes from or what it is all about.
We need to know!

Sian said...

No, we definitely don't have Homecoming here and it has always intrigued me a lot..is it connected to Harvest as in bringing the harvest home?

Becky said...

The mural is looking great! Homecoming is something we defintately don't have here!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Wow, that mural is something else! So cool. And I love the shot of the pumpkins lined up on the roof.

Yes, we have homecoming here, but you probably figured that. :o)

debs14 said...

No homecoming celebrations here! Do you know the history behind it?

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

Awesome mural! We do Homecoming here & it's pretty much the same with football on Friday & the announcement of the King, Queen & court & then there is a dance Saturday and the homecoming court ride on the school's float in the Xmas parade. The celebration isn't limited to the high school, all the schools participate in themed activities all week and then the students get in free to the game Friday.

Irene said...

We definitely have Homecoming in Texas. It is called homecoming because Alumni return to school for the big football game on Friday and all the activities including Pep Rallies and Tailgating the day of the big football game. (I guess you can also call it a reunion.) Students who have dates for the Homecoming Dance wear mums to the game. Students vote for the Homecoming King and Queen and are crowned at the Homecoming Dance. Colleges and Universities in Texas also have a Homecoming.

Miriam said...

Wow, fabulous pair this week and lots to learn. I have always wondered why the pumpkins were lined up on roofs like that. The mural is wonderful.

Abi said...

This was so interesting to read Rinda. No such thing over here as you have probably gathered. Sounds fun though!

sky-blu-pink said...

Nice shot of the pumpkins. We don't have homecoming in Britain.

Melissa said...

Great photos to represent homecoming!

Here in Texas, ANYTHING associated with football is celebrated huge!

Anonymous said...

What a great pair. I love the colours in the mural one and the pumpkins looks neat up along the rooftop.