Old Home Week or Old Home Day is a practice that originated in the
New England
New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...
region of the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
similar to a harvest holiday or festival. In its beginning in the 19th–20th century it involved a municipal effort to invite former residents of a village, town, or city—usually individuals who grew up in the municipality as children and moved elsewhere in adulthood—to visit the "Old Home", the parental household and home town. Some municipalities celebrate the holiday annually, while others celebrate it every few years.
In the late 20th and early 21st century, the practice has spread to other parts of
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
and has become a broader celebration with an emphasis on local culture and history. The
Wilmington, Vermont
Wilmington is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 2,255 at the 2020 census.
History
The town was chartered in 1751 by Benning Wentworth, colonial governor of New Hampshire. It was named in honor of Spencer Comp ...
town web site describes the event as follows:
See also
*
Come Home Year
References
External links
''Annals of Old Home Week''1901, for
Pittsfield, New Hampshire
*
''Old Home Week''a 1907 poem by James Ball Naylor with illustrations and photographs of Boston expressing the sentiments of Old Home Week
Awareness weeks in the United States
Canadian traditions
Unofficial observances
Festivals in the United States
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