Homecoming is one of the most popular events for high schools around the United States, and every school tends to have a unique type of celebration. While Spirit Week, the pep rally, and sporting events are common across all schools in the United States, homecoming mums are a Texas tradition, although mums are also popular across some schools in Oklahoma.
In short, homecoming mums are flowers that girls wear on their dresses for high school homecoming events. These events include the pep rally, football game, and other Spirit Week events. That said, there is more to homecoming mums than you may initially think.
Read on to learn more below.
What Are Mums?
The word mum comes from the bigger word chrysanthemum, which was shortened for this event. The chrysanthemum functions as the anchor for the entire floral arrangement and may be the only flower, or the bigger flower with other supporting options.
For homecoming, mums are floral arrangements that girls wear to homecoming events in Texas and in some schools in Oklahoma. The mum tends to be a massive floral decoration that girls wear and it usually includes a chrysanthemum, along with other ribbons and materials.
Design-wise, people can make these look how they want, and they’re encouraged to show off their school spirit and creative ideas. This makes homecoming mums a fun and unique tradition for schools across Texas.
What Is the Origin of the Homecoming Mum?
The homecoming mum has been ingrained in Texas and Oklahoma tradition for several decades. In fact, these massive floral arrangements date back to 1936 when they were first spotted at Baylor University. These mums became popular because boys would ask girls to specific dances using a chrysanthemum as the corsage.
While homecoming mums were first spotted on college campuses, they eventually made their way to high schools in the 1950s when boys would ask girls to homecoming dances with a chrysanthemum corsage.
Today, homecoming mums are still in use, but almost everyone can wear one, even without a date. Overall, the culture is more relaxed around mums for homecoming than it used to be, so feel free to have fun with your designs.
What Is a Homecoming Mum Made Of?
Homecoming mums are made of a lot of different things depending on the school, the event, and the student’s taste. Some mums are basic, with only a single flower and a few ribbons, while others are extravagant displays of creativity.
Ultimately, it depends on the student and the event.
That said, some common things are included in homecoming mums include:
- Ribbons and bows
- trinkets and jewelry
- Stickers and velcro
- Bells and cowbells
- Paper
- Multiple flowers
- Cardboard or foam for the backboard
- Pipe cleaners to tie flowers
- Letters for the name of the person or the school
Depending on the school and what the student wants to do, mums are open to interpretation. However, if you plan on wearing it with a dress for a homecoming dance you might want to be more mindful of how you style it.
When Should You Wear a Homecoming Mum?
Homecoming mums are meant to be worn to most homecoming events. This means that you’ll likely wear one to the football game, pep rally, and during Spirit Week. The homecoming parade is also a great place to wear your mum. Overall, it’s something you’ll be wearing all throughout the week.
That said, the homecoming dance is not where you should be wearing a homecoming mum, unless it’s been stated otherwise. The dance is more formal, and you’re better off choosing a homecoming dress that fits with your school’s guidelines; Sherri Hill’s homecoming collection offers dresses in a variety of lengths and styles, which can make meeting guidelines simpler.
You can also make your homecoming mum more elegant with jewelry, sparkles, and glitter if you have to wear it for the dance. This way, you can match the mum to your outfit for the best results.
Rock the Perfect Homecoming Mum this Year
Homecoming mums are an important part of homecoming events for female students in Texas, and even in some parts of Oklahoma. For this reason, it’s important to wear this accessory during Spirit Week and at other homecoming events, like the pep rally, or you might end up being the odd one out.
The good news is that everything we covered in this article will help you wear a homecoming mum with confidence.
