They jingle and they clang. They can cost hundreds of dollars and take weeks to make. Some trail to the floor and pose a beautiful tripping hazard. But most homecoming mums share in a few defining characteristics: They’re comprised largely of ribbon in the student’s school colors, are worn exclusively to the homecoming game, and are typically gifted by a date, family, or close friends.
To celebrate this distinctly Texan rite of passage, earlier this month we asked readers to send us pictures of their homecoming mums and share memories or reflections on the custom.
We received hundreds of photos of mums big and small, spanning decades of homecoming celebrations all across our state. Below is a sampling of the kinds of memories that keep Texas’s mum tradition (and your local craft supply store) thriving.
“This is a photo from the homecoming dance in the fall of 1983 at Permian High School, in Odessa, Texas. I graduated in 1984,” Shanna Cisneros said. “This mum was one of the biggest I saw that year. It’s tiny compared to [those] today!”
Courtesy of Shanna Cisneros
“Twenty-nine mums for [Kerrville’s] Tivy High School cheer all made in princess-themed colors,” Amy Trammell said. “I hope others realize while this tradition is crazy and it can be expensive, you are only young once.”
Courtesy of Amy Trammell
“A triple and a single mum with real flowers that would later be hung on my bedroom wall,” Cindy Lunsford said of her 1985 West Orange-Stark High School homecoming court photo. “Must haves: mini cowbells, football helmet, chenille hearts, and a felt cowboy hat!”
Courtesy of Cindy Lunsford
“My sisters-in-law made this mum for homecoming the year my husband (then boyfriend) and I first started dating,” said Janeth Barcenas. “They knew I loved Hello Kitty and included her as the main piece.”
Courtesy of @jaycervantes10
“I had so much fun making my daughter’s homecoming mums and really missed it when she graduated in 2022,” said Courtney Frick. “So this year I decided to make it a business! I just love how much school pride is represented as well as a celebration of the owner. Every mum tells a story and is a beautiful vehicle of self expression.”
Courtesy of Courtney Frick
“These are pictures from [Port Arthur’s Abraham Lincoln High School] homecoming in 1993. If my father were alive, he would have beat me to this . . . [He] purchased a homecoming corsage for me when I was in eighth grade, and my mom found out how much it cost and took a floral arrangement class to learn how to do it herself. From that point on she made all of mine.”
Courtesy of @mrs_kellyann
“I hope you all love it,” said Yvonne Cohen of her daughter’s senior mum.
Courtesy of Yvonne Cohen
“When I was in high school, mums were made of fresh flowers, simple ribbons, maybe a whistle or bell,” Barbara Durand Hollis remembered. “Junior class students would deliver all the mums. Go Red!”
Courtesy of Barbara Durand Hollis
“For six years, my good friend Angela has outfitted my boys’ girlfriends with, ‘Oh my gosh, she has the best mum ever!’ mums for our big Texas homecomings at both Memorial High School and St. Thomas High School in Houston,” said Mary Quinlan. “Every detail is unique to each couple.”
Courtesy of Mary Quinlan
“This is me, fall of 1989, in El Paso, Texas. I was the duchess,” Yvette Marquez recalled. “Forgot to mention—my mum had lights and played music.”
Courtesy of Yvette Marquez
“I made my daughter’s Labubu a mum to match.”
Courtesy of @meicantpark
“This was my mum for Whataburger night,” said Joyce Fehse. “There was a competition for best dressed, and I won.”
Courtesy of Joyce Fehse
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