Homecoming mums are said to have appeared in Texas during the 1930s, but the first known homecoming mums were worn in Missouri, which also hosted the first-ever homecoming football game in 1911. Some claim the tradition of wearing mums—at the time, made from real chrysanthemums—began before the 1930s.
In this post
What is the mum tradition in Texas?
A Texas tradition
A mum is a large arrangement of ribbons, bells, charms, and a button sewn together and designed to be worn pinned to a woman’s dress or – if it gets too big – around a woman’s neck.
Is homecoming a Texas thing?
It may surprise you to learn this Texas tradition didn’t, in fact, start in Texas! It is generally recognized that the Homecoming tradition originated at the University of Missouri around 1911. It took a little more than two decades for the flower to make their way into our great state of Texas.
Do other states have homecoming mums?
Originally a Texas Tradition, it’s now expanded out to other states such as Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alabama and as far as Florida, North Dakota and Virgina. Made of mostly ribbon, the homecoming mum is given to a girl at Homecoming to wear to school then to the Homecoming game and dance, if any.
Why are Texas mums a thing?
Homecoming mums are said to have appeared in Texas during the 1930s, but the first known homecoming mums were worn in Missouri, which also hosted the first-ever homecoming football game in 1911. Some claim the tradition of wearing mums—at the time, made from real chrysanthemums—began before the 1930s.
Is Texas the only state that does homecoming mums?
According to The Mum Shop, homecoming mums were exclusively a Texas tradition but it has since expanded into neighboring states like Oklahoma and Louisiana in recent years.
How much does a mum cost?
Mums can cost anywhere from about $5 to $27 depending on the size and if it has multiple colors.
Do guys wear mums to homecoming?
Girls aren’t the only ones that get in on the action. Guys also wear smaller mums on their arms called garters. Normally they’re made to match the mum that the girl was wearing.
How much does a homecoming mum cost?
How much do Homecoming Mums cost? Prices for mums can range from as low as $30 to as high as $500. It’s cheaper to buy your own materials and make them yourself but you’ll save time and get a perfect “Mum” if you buy one from a store.
Why are senior mums white?
Mums are made with the spirit colors of the high school, and often the addition of silver or gold if it’s not an official color. Black is often added as an accent color to silver schools.
What do homecoming mums represent?
Homecoming mums represent both high school football, commonly referred to as a “religion” in Texas. They also represent the importance of dating and relationships in high school life. The Homecoming celebration as we know it today can be traced back a century to the University of Missouri.
What arm does a garter go on?
A mum is a homecoming tradition done by most high schools in Texas and surrounding states. It’s a very large corsage that is worn around the neck or chest for girls or on the upper arm for boys called mum garters.
What do you do at homecoming?
All homecoming activities are centered around bringing the community together and celebrating school spirit! For most high schools, homecoming occurs at the beginning of the school year. Homecoming events may include a pep rally, a parade, a football game, and the homecoming dance.
What does a mum symbolize?
The chrysanthemum has a wide variety of meanings all across the globe: In Asia, the flower signifies life and rebirth; in several European nations, mums signifies an expression of sympathy or loss; and in the U.S., mums symbolize optimism, joy, and longevity.
How long should homecoming mums be?
~Full length LONG mum streamers are cut 34-36″ long and the total length of a single flower mum is about 43-44″. Standard flower size is 6.5″. Larger & smaller flowers are available.
How long does it take to make a mum?
If you’re making it yourself, you’ll need about 2-4 hours to make it, especially if it’s your first time.
Can you make money selling mums?
Based on a price of $2.25 per pot, delivered plants had a profit margin of 36.8% and non-delivered plants had 44.2% profit margin. Garden mums offer the potential of a profitable summer crop. Market outlets should be secured prior to the decision to produce the crop.
What are the best mums to buy?
Look for dark green, full, symmetrical plants with no signs of wilting or yellowing foliage. Buy the plants by flower color. The fun is coming up with a scheme, say orange mums and black pansies for Halloween. Because it’s a temporary show, have a good time with color combinations.
What should you not wear to homecoming?
So, what should you wear? Homecoming is a semi-formal event. Guys do not need to wear full suits, but they also shouldn’t dress up in something they could wear to school. Typical homecoming attire for guys is a button up shirt with dress pants or khakis, a tie or bow-tie, dress shoes, and maybe even a vest.
What is the point of mums and garters?
The male counterpart to a mum is the garter, which is a smaller, less flashy version of the mum designed to fit around a man’s arm. The mum is designed and ordered by the male date and the garter is designed and ordered by the female date, to be later exchanged on the night before homecoming week.
What color are sophomore mums?
The mum needs to be in the school colors with a coordinating metallic color (silver or gold). A little bit of an accent color is ok too (like zebra, cheetah, hot pink, etc.) Sophomore Homecoming Mum: If you are buying/making a homecoming mum for a Sophomore, you will need a Double Mum (meaning 2 flowers).