<P> Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back former students and members and celebrating an organization's existence . It is a tradition in many high schools, colleges, and churches in the United States and Canada . </P> <P> Homecoming (colloquially known as "hoco" or "HoCo" in some parts of the US) is an annual tradition in the United States . People, towns, high schools, and colleges come together, usually in late September or early October, to welcome back alumni and former residents . It is built around a central event, such as a banquet or dance and, most often, a game of American football, or, on occasion, basketball, ice hockey, or soccer . When celebrated by schools, the activities vary widely . However, they usually consist of a football game played on a school's home football field, activities for students and alumni, a parade featuring the school's choir, marching band, and sports teams, and the coronation of a homecoming queen (and at many schools, a homecoming king). A dance commonly follows the game or the day following the game . When attached to a football game, homecoming traditionally occurs on the team's return from the longest road trip of the season . The game itself, whether it be football or another sport, will typically feature the home team playing a considerably weaker opponent . The game is supposed to be an "easy win" and thus weaker schools will sometimes play lower division schools . </P> <P> The tradition of homecoming has its origin in alumni football games held at colleges and universities since the 19th century . Many schools including Baylor, Southwestern, Illinois, and Missouri have made claims that they held the first modern homecoming . The NCAA, Trivial Pursuit, Jeopardy!, and references from the American TV drama NCIS give the title to the University of Missouri's 1911 football game during which alumni were encouraged to attend . It was the first annual homecoming centered on a parade and a football game . </P> <P> In 1891, the Missouri Tigers first faced off against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first installment of the Border War, which was also the oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi River until the teams stopped playing each other in 2012 . The intense rivalry originally took place at neutral sites, usually in Kansas City, Missouri, until a new conference regulation was announced that required intercollegiate football games to be played on collegiate campuses . To renew excitement in the rivalry, ensure adequate attendance at the new location, and celebrate the first meeting of the two teams on the Mizzou campus in Columbia, Missouri, Mizzou Athletic Director Chester Brewer invited all alumni to "come home" for the game in 1911 . Along with the football game, the celebration included a parade and spirit rally with bonfire . The event was a success, with nearly 10,000 alumni coming home to take part in the celebration and watch the Tigers and Jayhawks play to a 3--3 tie . The Missouri annual homecoming, with its parade and spirit rally centered on a large football game is the model that has gone on to take hold at colleges and high schools across the United States . </P>

Where did the idea of homecoming come from