Comments on: San Antonio, Texas: High School Homecoming Mums

By: CG

CG — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:53:00 +0000

ok. I’m from La, and I live in Texas now. I didn’t remember mums,and was really confused when my daughter started high school and these mums came out of no where. Every one talked about it like I should know what they were for. I was beginning to think I missed something in High school. Now, I know its a Texas thing.

By: Clare

Clare — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:28:41 +0000

I could have sworn growing up in Central Wisconsin we had mums (real flowers with just ribbons) for homecoming along with a Big parade with Big floats but maybe it is just a Texas thing.

By: Margo

Margo — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:11:45 +0000

I live in Georgia now, but I am so glad I went to High School in Texas. The Texas tradition made my childhood great. I am orginally from California and in comparison to the girls in my family that didn’t live in Texas, I had the best High School experience. (Cheerleading, Mums, Pagents, Texas State Fair, Summer Camps, Food, Culture and History) I was able to be a kid and enjoy my youth. I am big on traditions now as an adult. I have two girls (10 &1)(African American) and I will try to make sure they get their mums every year. It’s what being young is all about. And I am so suprised by the lady who thought it was not a black thing. Who was she around as a child? Even worse as an adult, how negative could she be. Somebody buy that lady a mum and a better attitude.
Happy Homecoming everyone.

By: Donna

Donna — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 12:23:18 +0000

I have to confess that I learned something new today. I had no idea that homecoming mums were so regional. That’s us Texans for you, we figure if we do it, then everyone does (or should!). Growing up we used to get our mums from the florist and since I attended such a small high school, a bunch of girlfriends would often get together and we would go as a group to homecoming and get our own mums and NEVER the basic models. And yes, they were real mums so all you were left with was a very expensive dead mess after the occasion. Matter of fact, you could always tell which girls had dates, they would have the mums that were very conservative and plain.
This past weekend my sister-in-law and myself took this opportunity to take our minds off hurricane Ike’s aftermath (she Lake Jackson and myself Houston) and crafted mums not only for my 16-year-old nephew’s mystery date, but for my 4 and 8-year-old nieces as well. It was a blast, and to be true to my past, I really went over the top. Nowadays though, that’s the rule and not the exception.
It was a great, fun project and I urge anyone who has an upcoming homecoming to try their hand at making their own mum.

By: Suzie

Suzie — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:00:08 +0000

I live in San Antonio Texas I am a 41 yr old Hispanic. We had mums back when I was in High School. Now my daughter is in High School and in band. So this is my 1st year making her a mum. Its not a WHITE thing. I am guessing its a Texas thing. The school my daughter goes to is mostly hispanics. Seems like a lot of kids wear mums. So news for Dolly. Blacks and Hispanics can buy mums as well don’t you worry. I am a stay at home mom I do have the time to make my daughters mum. I have been blessed. Now if you ask my husband what is a homecoming mum I bet he has no clue lol.

By: Lynn Clarke

Lynn Clarke — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:06:01 +0000

I am from Odessa, Texas. Homecoming mums are for everyone here, ALL RACES!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE LOVE EM' as a matter of fact, I am going to Michaels after I pick my daughter up from school to buy everything we need to make one before Friday.

By: dolly hall

dolly hall — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:47:52 +0000

I sure was glad to find your site to read all about homecoming mums. I am from Colorado, but have lived all over the west. Never heard of mums (except for the real flower, with no embellishments) until I arrived in Grand Prairie, Texas. Unfortunately, even my nearby florist couldn’t tell me much. Don’t know if that was because she really didn’t know, or if she thought it was so obvious that my question couldn’t be real! Anyhow, it’s kind of cool, but the kids probably should know that it is regional, and the rest of the world (even the rest of the “southwest”) does not know what they are talking about when they bring up home-coming mums!
I hope that someone puts in a little extra effort for the kids who’s moms are working too hard to make them, or who can’t possibly afford a pound and a half of ribbons and plastic charms. I work in the inner city (Dallas)and cannot imagine most of my African American and Hispanic kids going in for this. Sounds pretty whitebread to me. Set me straight. Dolly

By: curios texan

curios texan — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:32:57 +0000

Good article… I was searching this to see if mums are a tradition all over the u.s., and I guess I got my answer. However, I wanted to add a few things: mums are only for girls, but guys get garters that girls make (or the girl’s mom). A garter is just like a mum but smaller, and instead of being hung around the neck it is attached to a garter which is worn around the arm. Also, the exchange of garters and mums isn’t nearly the same as the story you were told. Your date to the homecoming dance makes your garter or mum for you, and everyone in your homecoming group gets together and exchanges the mums/garters with their dates the day before the football game. People only wear one mum or garter; they’re so big and bulky I couldn’t imagine wearing more than one! Also, they get bigger the older you are: freshman only have one flower (or one bunch of flowers), which sophomores have two, juniors have three, and seniors have three but in gold or silver and white instead of your school colors.

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 04:03:31 +0000

I’m 58 & have gotten a homecoming mum every year since the 7th grade, i have 3 sons & a daughter, made mums for the boys girlfriends & my daughter until she was old enough to get them from boys…now I’m a grandmother & this is my 4th year to make them for my g.son & his 2 best friends who have adopted me as their Na Na, I have 2 more yrs making theirs for high school then we start college, & the other 4 g.kids will be ready to step up & start getting theirs!!!
mums are a great part of being Texan!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Maggie

Maggie — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 06:07:25 +0000

Found your blog by searching Texas mums. Great little piece about Homecoming Mums. I went to school in Texas as a little girl and we had this tradition in Del Rio along the border where I grew up. Ours were real mums. We would dangle cow bells and jingle bells from the ribbons. I got my first mum from my mom in 4th grade for our elementary homecoming. Back then we didn't know we were supposed to get them from boys. My 5th grade year, I got a Del Rio High School mum from a family friend (a high school boy!) because all of the little drill teams from the 5 elementary schools were to perform at the High School's Homecoming game (yes, read pee wee Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders!) We all thought that we were big stuff back then. I strutted my stuff and told everyone that I got a mum from a high school football player...who wasn't my brother!

Thank you for the memories. We live on Oahu and I think that this year I will make one for my daughter's birthday! Maybe I can start a new tradition here...

Maggie