The sights, smells, and sounds of fall are starting to trickle into our days. Cooler evenings, pumpkin-spiced everything, and the sounds of your local high school football game are just a few indicators that autumn has arrived in Texas.
Soon you will hear the jingling of bells and swishing of ribbon. That isn’t because we are anywhere near a gift-giving holiday, but rather a time of year some Texans argue is better than any yuletide celebration: HOMECOMING.
Why all the bells and whistles (and ribbons, bears, braids, and cowbells) one might ask? Well, homecoming in Texas has become so much more than some Friday night lights. Traditionally, homecoming is a time to celebrate a school’s alumni coming home to reminisce and support their alma mater. However, in Texas, the showstoppers of this weekend are the mums dripping in decorations and oozing school spirit — the ultimate Texas-sized trademark.
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What Is a Homecoming Mum?
A homecoming mum is a gift given by dates attending the homecoming dance together. What was once a fresh flower corsage has become a statement piece that signals the annual school celebration.
Traditionally, the base of the mum is a large silk chrysanthemum flower that is then decorated with personalized elements describing the school and person wearing the mum. These details might include names, activities, school colors, etc. Ladies typically wear a larger mum with longer ribbons pinned to the front of their shirt or worn with a rope around the neck. Gentlemen typically wear smaller mums with shorter ribbons attached to an armband or garter.
The reasoning behind the mum is both a mix of tradition and school spirit, but it’s ultimately a fun way to celebrate the homecoming football game and following dance.
Homecoming Mums Through the Ages
Homecoming mums were not always the large monstrosities of ribbon and glitter that seemingly swallow up high school girls we see today. The tradition of homecoming mums in Texas dates back to the 1950s and 1960s when mums were worn as corsages to the homecoming game and dance. Over time, ribbons were added to the base of the flower, usually in the school’s colors.
While homecoming mums have become a staple of high school football seasons, the tradition did not originate in the great state of Texas! The first homecoming mums were actually worn at the very first homecoming game in 1911 in Missouri. The first Texas homecoming mum was spotted in 1936 at Baylor University.
In the 1990s, homecoming mums transitioned to being made with silk flowers due to the fragile quality and short life span of cut chrysanthemums. From that point on, mums have gotten more elaborate. Handmade and decorated by professionals and hobbyists alike, mums today range in price from $50 dollars to more than $500, depending on the details.
In 2015, a Palo Duro High School floral design class set out to win the record for the world’s largest homecoming mum in the Guinness Book of World Records. The mum was made with 93 carnations, 32 chrysanthemums, 15 feet of ribbon, blue lights, and measured 55 inches wide. The monster of all mums was beaten in 2017 by a University High School student in Waco, Texas, whose mum weighed 50 pounds and had to be worn on her back!
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Every Mum Is Bigger in Texas
Now you might be asking yourself Where do I even begin to find a mum, make a mum, or order a mum? A great resource is the Find-a-Mum feature of Mums Inc., a community for professional mum makers.
But there are plenty of local resources at your fingertips to ensure your homecoming mum experience is one to be remembered!
- Located in Providence Village, DK Florals, Inc. is a woman-owned business that custom-makes mums and garters. They are passionate about the art of mum-making and braiding, and ship their designs anywhere.
- Mums and Kisses is a small business in Crowley, Texas, that offers packages to build and design your own mum, mum supplies to DIY at home, or premade packages.
- A family-owned business since 1984, The Mum Shop in Allen, Texas, knows its stuff when it comes to local schools and all things mum-related!
Your school’s parent-teacher association and booster club are also a fantastic resource when ordering a mum. Many schools use this as a fundraising opportunity, and provide mum-making services close to campus.
Some may say the tradition of homecoming mums is ridiculous, but there is always fun to be found in a Texas-sized tradition!
