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Homecoming?

Juliestcyr

Juliestcyr

Grammar nerd and proud of it
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Feb 17, 2015
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I'm seeing all kinds of gorgeous layouts of people's kids going to some kind of high school dance. But, it wasn't a thing where I grew up, and apparently isn't a thing where I live now. So, someone help me out. What is it? Some kind of dance in September? Is it some kind of back to school thing?
 
Homecoming is usually a weekend during high school or college where alumni come back to the school. There is usually a big homecoming football game which alumni attend and a dance which is usually just the kids. At my kids' school, there is usually a themed dance at some fairly fancy venue. The girls really dress up in cocktail dresses, the boys not quite as much but they do dress up a bit more than usual.
 
I've always wondered who was "coming home". My high school had something we called the "Battle of Waterloo". It was an annual game against one of the other high schools followed by a dance. There were no alumni, and it was pretty poorly attended. My daughter's high school has a game, but no dance. Her school's team is called the Tigers, so they call this week "Tiger Prowl" and do a bunch of spirit activities leading up to their big game.
 
Even some homeschoolers have homecoming dances. I think it's silly when homeschoolers imitate school stuff. But my girls love attending the homecoming and valentines dances hosted by the large homeschool group in our area. I know homecoming for high schools and colleges mean a time when alumni return to visit, but I don't think the term "homecoming" means anything at all for the dance our homeschool group does every fall (this year it's on November 1). They have a different theme every year (the Oscars this year) and a DJ and potluck and a nice venue and they dress up. I think it's great; just don't know why they call it homecoming. Oh, this group hosts a prom too. It's very expensive though and far away (Great Wolf Lodge waterpark), so my girls are waiting until senior year for that.
 
This is my first experience with it. My freshman daughter is going with friends, but she's still wearing a cocktail dress. Told her I'd pay to have her hair done when she has a date. LOL However, since she's on student council, she gets to arrive at 7:00 a.m. and help with the decorations.
 
@LynnZant We also didn't have "Prom" where I went to school. But there was a Winter Formal, and a Grad Formal. (It was basically the same thing, I think). I went to Winter Formal 3 times (Grades 11, 12, and 13) and Grad Formal twice (Grades 12 and 13). I had a date for the Grade 11 Winter Formal, but ditched him a week before. (That is a story for another day). And it was the best decision I ever made. My friends and I who all went dateless had a blast, those with a date had way less fun, and I resolved to never bring a date to another formal dance ever again. I have stuck to that rule to this day. Through every formal event during my undergrad and law school. And since then... the only wedding I've ever brought my husband to was our own. My advice to every girl going into high school is "go with your friends, don't feel pressured to find a date, get yourself done up, get matching corsages for you and your crew and light it up." I've had three people come back to me and say, "I followed your advice, and it was so much more fun than last year when I took a date." I'm sure your daughter is going to have a blast.
 
My stepson went to his high school's homecoming dance a couple weeks ago. The big drama was that he asked a girl to go with him... and then unasked her when he found out all his friends were going dateless! Ha! He & his crew went together. I have no idea whether he danced with anyone including his ex-date.

My college (and others, I'm sure) have a big homecoming football game around the same time which includes inviting alumni marching band members to play/march during halftime. Some friends of mine did that and had a blast.
 
My daughter just had her homecoming last weekend. Friday night was the game (they share a stadium with other schools, so they had the early game at 4:15). After the game, there was a family homecoming carnival at the school. Saturday night was the dance, with a parent/alumni event at a nearby venue for the same times as the dance.

My issue with homecoming and dates is the pressure.... the poor boys just can't ask a girl anymore! It has to be this big public announcement with a poster and gifts! Clara got asked two days before the dance... but they kept it really low key. No flowers, as neither had time to track them down. They didn't even go together since Clara had dance rehearsal all afternoon, they just met there. Clara and her date hung out together some, but she said that it's much more fun to be date-less.
 
When I was in school, the homecoming dance was immediately after the homecoming game. It wasn't a mini-prom which it seems to be today. We didn't do cocktail dresses, just church like dresses and or pants and the guys wore khakis or something.

I so agree @tkradtke, the whole prom-posal/big production thing is really out of hand. Too much pressure on the poor guys!!
 
In Texas our homecomings aren't complete without the mum and garter. HUGE!!!! Seriously, google Texas homecoming mums. When my kids were in high school, I thanked them each September that they were homeschooled and I didn't have to make or buy a mum! The craft stores are crazy with mum making stuff! It is CRAZY! Many times, you can't even see what the girl is wearing because of her mum. I'm sure they don't wear them to the dance, just the day of the game at school and then to the game.
 
I never went to any of my Jr. High or HS dances; but these other ladies have nailed it from what friends told me about them.

@kimingvtx WOAH!! That is some serious business right there!! Go big or go home!!
 
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