Is a homecoming dance just a USA kind of thing?

Is this just a USA kind of thing?

What is a homecoming dance and why do you guys do that?

 

Yeah, pretty much an American thing, although some Canadian schools have homecoming traditions as well. As for why we do it, I'm the last person to ask. In high school, I was about as social as Howard Hughes in his dotage.

Link -- Wiki: Homecoming

 

"Homecoming" is the first football game of the season at home.

Why there's a dance? I have no clue.

 

Before there were phonographs, movies, radio, TV, internets, VR goggles etc., attending sports events and dances were two of the main forms of entertainment people had. So the return of football games in the fall was a good occasion for a school and its community to hold a big event. The game and the dance are all that's left in most places, but there were also dinners, band concerts, parades and that sort of thing.

 

It's a high school tradition, like prom. A social event. When I was in high school in the 70s there was a dance at the local Catholic school after every home football game. It's just a thing.

Why is this a question? Don't people do that stuff any more?

 

^Though I think it was a college/university tradition before it was picked up by high schools.

 

It's still done, and in Texas, it's done with ridiculous devotion. The grocery stores sell sashes and "mums" in the colors of all the local high schools & colleges. It's not just tradition; it's big business.

 

As Doc Brown might say, it's a rhythmic ceremonial ritual!

srsly, I was never very socially active in high school, but I always loved the dances. Even if I was alone (which I often was) and had no idea what "homecoming" meant, I'd go anyway. You don't have to actually dance - just being around people who are dancing is a lot of fun in and of itself.

True, since this was the 80's, I'd hear that damned "What I Like About You" about a thousand times a year, but I'd consider that an acceptable risk.

 

No we people outside of the USA don't have this odd tradition.

 

^What's so odd about having a school dance?

 

We've had those but we don't call it anything like homecoming dance or Sadie Hawkins or anything, Who is she anyway and why does she get a special dance? LOL

 

You don't have Google there either?

 

I believe the OP lives in a country where homecoming has never been a thing.

Kor

 

Americans are big on festivals, parades, and what not in the late summer and fall. Probably goes back to traditions established in the more rural era of American history where its "yah!!!! The crops are in! Let's party".

Given that football is a fall sport naturally the fall festival thing got glommed into the football season.

 

I do like square dancing... That is fun

 

I think OP's mom was frightened by a search engine when she was carrying him.

 

Why, in our day, search engines were steam-powered and involved actual trains. And we LIKED it that way, con-sarn-it!

 

Whereas these days, the Steam search engine is really only good to find a game to play.

 

Yep. I also remember homecoming week. The theme days and the like. Those were more fun. Only ended up going to prom, myself with a friend one year.

Best part of homecoming one year was seeing a group of teachers (both men and women) having to dress up as cheerleaders. It was their way of breaking the newbies in.

I'll never forget it .