It’s that time of year again. The leaves are falling, the weather is changing, and homecoming is just around the corner. Everyone knows the saying, “Everything’s bigger in Texas,” but this is especially true when it comes to homecoming; Texans take it very seriously. One tradition unique to Texas is students making mums/garters for their homecoming date and wearing them to school the day of homecoming and to the game later that day.

The tradition of mums and garters originated at the University of Missouri in 1911. The athletic director at the college encouraged alumni to attend the game which included a huge celebration complete with parades and rallies similar to what you see at homecoming games today. Soon after this, boys in Texas began the tradition of giving chrysanthemums to their homecoming dates as a corsage.

Mums began very simply, but during the 70’s they became more elaborate and grew in size. They continued growing to become the gigantic size we see today. Ribbons, bells, stuffed animals, and other embellishments can be found on mums today. Guys wear a smaller version of these on their arms called garters.

What a lot of people don’t know, these extravagant creations can cost upwards of $75 and the price raises with the amount of add-ons you get. Depending on how elaborate you make it, it can also start to get heavy. Some people even have to wear their mums around their necks to support the weight of them.  Many people’s parents get involved in the “mum-building” process as it can become complicated. Even people who do not have a date sometimes make themselves a mum just for the fun of it.

Many people from other states do not understand the tradition of mums, (I myself think that it’s slightly ridiculous), but many Texans see it as a way to express your personality and do something special for your date during homecoming. People’s mums/garters are made to match their interests and hobbies. If your date is a soccer player, you might include a soccer ball on their mum, or if they like to sing, you can put ribbon with music notes on it. They are very easy to customize. Many people also like to include their names as well as their dates’ as well as the year. Mums can also make great keepsakes to remind you of high school memories.