Updated September 2024
It’s Fall, y’all. And in Texas, that means the biggest season is here. Homecoming Season! And with that comes the mums – and the questions as to what they are and why Texas has them at all. So, if you are in the thick of this high school craziness with your owns kids or you’re reading this from afar and need to know more, let us tell you all about the mum.
The History of Homecoming Mums
The tradition of the homecoming mum goes back to the 1950’s when young men would gift their young ladies a fabulous, fall Chrysanthemum. The gals would pin the mum to their clothes and wear them to the game and/or dances. A simple, sweet tradition.
Apparently, as the decades continued, the 1980’s and 90’s brought with it a go-big or go-home attitude – with our attire, our hair, and the mum.
The simple white mum was now big and bold, with school-colored ribbons, bells, footballs, pom-poms, and all kinds of other school spirit paraphernalia. As we moved into the 2000’s well, size matters! And the guys get a mini mum, or garter they wear around their mums now, too.
And as we move into 2024, your Stanley can get a mum as well. My, how times have changed.
Go Big or Go Home!
Some do really take this homecoming tradition for all it is worth. Some girls want a mum the size of Texas, literally. Some prefer dainty displays of their activities in school – sports, cheer, or band! Hit up your local craft store, and your options are limitless.
The other factor determining whether you go big or home also comes down to the cost. In the 80’s and 90’s and even today, many moms, grandmothers, and teachers make a nice income from selling mums during September and October. Check your local area as mums have become big business – some mums can go upwards of $200 or more.
To DIY or To Buy
If you want to buy a mum, you have many options. You can usually order mums online, Etsy, local flower shops, and every high school has a local mum mom or teacher who makes them, too. Buying a mum is a great option, but you have to be ahead of the game and order weeks in advance as many of the local shops and moms fill orders quickly. This is easy if you know who your kid is “proposing” to (which is a whole other topic!), but if they are still trying to figure out dates, time is limited.
Traditions
Homecoming is a big thing in Texas high schools, and while mums may not make a bunch of sense to non-Texans, the kids love it. From making them, exchanging them, and wearing them – you can’t beat the tradition. That Friday before homecoming weekend is one noisy affair as the kids proudly show off their mums (and the teachers need more coffee from the bells and whistles) and wear the mums/garters to the game that night.
No matter your stance or what your pocket book requires, homecoming is memorable. You can even hit up any high schoolers’ room at home to see them displayed proudly even after Homecoming ends.
Happy Homecoming, Texas!
