Homecoming/ is a tradition/ at American colleges, universities and also high schools. Schools/ usually hold a weekend/ for this purpose/ each fall. Homecoming weekend/ is a time/ when former students/ return to get together/ with current students/ and with old friends.

The weekend/ usually centers on a football game/ and a homecoming dance. Many schools/ also hold a parade. And some/ burn a ceremonial fire/ to show support/ for their team.

The University of Illinois/ has claimed/ for many years/ to have held the first college homecoming weekend/ in nineteen ten. The planners of that celebration/ saw it/ as a chance/ for students and former students/ to get to know each other. They said/ it would create more loyalty/ to the university. And they said/ it would lead other universities/ to follow.

We found a research paper/ on the Web site/ of the University of Illinois/ at Urbana-Champaign. It was completed/ this year/ by members of the university archives program.

It seems/ they found/ that Baylor University/ in Texas/ held an event/ called "Home-Coming"/ one year earlier, in nineteen-oh-nine. It was organized/ as a time/ to meet former student friends, recall old memories/ and "catch the Baylor spirit again." Events of that weekend/ included a concert, a parade and a football game.

And Northern Illinois University/ has records/ to show/ it held a homecoming weekend/ even earlier, in nineteen-oh-six. It was also a gathering/ of former students/ with organized social events/ built around a football game.

Today/ most American colleges/ hold a homecoming weekend. At many schools, though, officials/ are increasingly concerned/ about the use of alcohol and other drugs/ at homecoming parties. And some students say/ the weekend is fun/ only when their football team/ has a winning season. Still, whoever started it, homecoming weekend/ remains an important social event/ at many schools/ in the United States.