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Culture

Mum season is upon us in Texas

Did you know the local tradition didn’t start in Texas? Despite that, Texans have been donning mums since at least 1936.

September 6, 2024 • 
Laura Figi, Rebecca McRobbie
A display of Texas high school homecoming mums in shades of orange, white, and gold. The mums are adorned with various decorations, including ribbons, glittery streamers, feathers, and small trinkets, all arranged on a white lattice backdrop in a store setting.

You can buy mums for as little as $10, up to hundreds of dollars, or make them yourself.

Photo by Anna Hanks

Homecoming season is here and if you’re from Texas, you know it’s more than just ribbons, football, and alumni events.

Homecoming mums have been a tradition in Texas since the early 1900s and have since become a statement-making hallmark of high school life in the Lone Star State.

What is a homecoming mum?

Short for chysanthemum, mums are elaborate flowers made from ribbons and are considered a token of affection exchanged between students in honor of homecoming celebrations. Traditionally, students will wear a mum to school on homecoming Friday, the football game, and other alumni events.

A long-held tradition

According to Texas Highways, the first mums were worn at homecoming in Missouri in 1911. The tradition became popular in Texas in 1936 when Baylor University hosted the first-ever homecoming celebration in the state.

We’d love to see a mum from you or your family — send us your photos.

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