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1 Comment [ View ]Old and new, homecoming is all about the traditions
By JULIA SAXTONThe traditions of yesterday keep today's traditions alive.
Football, dances and crazy contests make for the traditions of homecoming, now being celebrated in high schools throughout the Top of Utah. Win or lose the game underneath the Friday-night lights, by the end of the week, with all the other activities, students have something to talk about.
From the parades to the fancy fun dance, many students have a specific event or tradition they look forward to every year when homecoming week comes around.
Junior Patrick Wendel, at Layton High, says the best thing about homecoming is "definitely the street painting! There is nothing better than a handful of paint and shoving it in your friend's face."
"The pep rally, parade and bonfire are the best traditions because they bring everyone together and get everyone excited for the game at our school," says Courtney Slate, a senior at Fremont High.
Roy High senior Garrett Curtis adds, "The best tradition of homecoming is the powderpuff game for sure, because it's way fun and funny!"
Other students say the football game is the top activity of the celebration.
"The homecoming game is by far the best of homecoming week because everyone's there and all jazzed out in their school pride," says Courtney Harrington, a junior at Roy High. "It is the biggest game of the year."
"The homecoming game is always a lot of fun," says Eric Swenson, a junior at Syracuse High.
Swenson adds, "I hope that (homecoming) is great. We have a bigger school now and it was new last year and we didn't have many traditions."
Courtney Cox, a Davis High junior, also says, "I like the game the best because it's way fun and shows school spirit."
Unwantedtraditions
Although we all have our favorite parts of homecoming week, we also have the parts of the week that we don't look forward to as much as others.
"I think that the door-decorating contest is the worst because it is rigged," Curtis said jokingly.
Wendel, at Layton, enjoys the street painting, but Mikelle Kapp, a sophomore at Roy High, disagrees.
"I don't like the street painting because it doesn't even get you pumped up for the game," Kapp says.
Some teens say the parade is one of the worst parts of homecoming week.
"Parades are just dumb," says Tanner Olsen, a junior at Layton High.
Classmate Tara Smith, a junior, says, "The parade was boring this year."
However, Ashley Eppich, a Davis High senior, says the homecoming royalty is the worst event.
"It's just a big popularity contest and it's boring," Eppich says.
Those who are involved in the school's sports teams don't always get to enjoy the bits and pieces of homecoming.
"It's stupid how we always have volleyball practice so we can't get involved with a lot of the activities," says Baylee Day, a Davis High senior.
A little change?
A lot takes place during the typical school homecoming week. Is there too much going on, or maybe too little? Some students say they would like to see some things changed about the way homecoming week is run.
Eppich says, "I think it would be better if we had more activities and if we got more of the school involved."
"I'd really like to see us do the powderpuff game again because it would be fun," says senior Britt Freeland of Bonneville High, where the powderpuff tradition was canceled three years ago.
Slate says, "I think the dance shouldn't be with dates. I think we should just go in groups."
McKenzie Laws, a Davis High senior, says, "They need better music because last year it was all country. And they need to turn the lights off."
Smith says there should be no change about homecoming: "Homecoming is perfect the way it is."
More participation
Tanner Griffin, a junior at Layton High, says, "I want to see more people at the events because, even though it is the most celebrated week of the school year, not everyone shows up for everything."
As some traditions continue, more come alive. Homecoming week can be filled with memories good or bad.
As Kapp from Roy says, "It may be a lot of money and effort, but trust me, it is worth it!"
TX. correspondents Danielle Downs, Davis High; Megan Leonardi, Fremont High; Kaitlin Lewis, Syracuse High; Mason Snow, Layton High, and LaLaina Strate, Bonne-ville High, contributed to this story.
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Julia Saxton is a junior at Roy High School. She loves to dance, shop and socialize. E-mail her at guliajulia73@hotmail.com.
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Nice job Mason! It's fun to see you interview people from the old ninth grade honors class!
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