Homecoming is one of the most important social events in any American high school, but only in the Southwest does the occasion call for all the bells and whistles… literally. On Homecoming day, students in this area, particularly in Texas, take immense pride in sporting fake chrysanthemums pinned to their lapels complete with ribbons, ornaments, stickers, and much more.
What the heck is a mum?
Though the tradition of making and wearing mums is virtually unrecognized by the rest of the country, it is a rite of passage in the Southwest. It is largely associated with high school football and is meant to cheer the school’s team to victory. Historically, mums were also used as corsages between couples attending the Homecoming dance. Each student in a school, depending on his or her grade level and organizational involvement, can wear mums to school on Homecoming day.
Girls usually wear the fake flower pinned at the top of their chests or hung around their necks with ribbons and ornaments flowing down to their feet. A mini-version of this is worn by many boys as a sleeve garter, flowing down the length of the arm. Though traditions vary between cities, school districts, and individual schools, boys usually only wear a garter if a special girl has made one for him. According to tradition, the boy is actually supposed to make his girlfriend’s mum in return, but that practice became less popular when girls realized they could do a much better job making them at home.
In fact, entire sections of craft and fabric stores are now stocked each fall with aisles upon aisles of mum-making supplies. Schools often have individualized mum decorations available in these stores, such as ribbons printed with the school name, miniature stuffed animal mascots, and tiny replicas of the school’s football helmets.
How do they do it?
Many girls order their mums from specialty stores instead of creating them themselves. There are entire businesses, physical and online, dedicated to this purpose. The mum is individualized according to the student’s school, grade level, activities, interests, relationship status, and general desires. Having a unique, fun, and sometimes outrageous mum is the key. The fake flower and flowing ribbons constitute the foundation of the mum, but additional decorations are highly encouraged.
These decorations range from strings of beads, bells, photographs, whistles, flowers, plastic ornaments, pins, bows, and stuffed animals, to blinking lights, feathers, and various battery-powered theatrics. Many students also spell out their interests on individual ribbons using sticky letters or find themed ribbons specific to their activities, such as marching band, lacrosse, debate team, and cheerleading.
Who gets to wear what?
Grade level specifications are also important. One mum in school colors indicates a freshman, and a double mum or triple mum in school colors indicates a sophomore or junior, respectively. Seniors have more leeway but usually sport one very classy mum in silver and white or four mums, two on each side of the body, in silver and white or school colors.
These mums can become very heavy and often necessitate further support. Exactly when the mum is worn is a topic of debate among some Southerners. Students have the option of wearing them to school on Homecoming day, to the special football game, to the dance, or to a combination of all three. There are often unspoken rules in each school concerning this matter.
Wearing Homecoming mums is a time-honored tradition in the Southwestern United States and one that will continue to thrive for decades to come – bells, whistles, and all.
Carly Zimmerman - I am a self-proclaimed world traveller looking to inspire others while being inspired!
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