Homecoming Dance Question

[cats mom]

Definitely budget related since a quick google search led me to the bizarre tradition of huge Homecoming Mums in Texas.
-Y'all are nuts by the way!

So my question is: are corsages and boutonnieres still the norm at homecoming where you live?

Or is homecoming more casual, and flowers are reserved for prom? And I'm talking currently, as in 2011, not ages ago.

It would be great if you could post at least a general location, since I'm guessing the answer will vary based on where you live.

looking forward to seeing what the general consensus is.

 

[TNT21]

My daughter just went to her Homecoming dance a few weeks ago. Last year, they bought flowers and said they were wilted within the first hour at the dance. This year they didnt buy them,she thought they were a waste of money. It seems that it could go either way, some wear them, some don't. (We are in Northern Illinois btw...)

 

[shera]

You mean only us Texans wear mums for Homecoming???No one else does that???

 

[cstwwt]

My daughter just went to her first Homecoming in WI.....she and the boy she went with decided not to get flowers...but his mom got her a wrist corsage anyway....it was a very nice touch for her. I really wanted her to have some....so I was glad the mom just did it!!

 

[twooley2]

We live in TX and corsages and boutiners (SP) are still the norm, the mum and Garters are for the dress to impress day at school on Fridays the Day of Football and to wear to the Football games the bigger the better is the cliche. The flowers stay if bought from a reputable florist and picked up the morning of the Dance. If buying from a grocery store or picking them up too early they will most likely wilt. My daughters dates parents and I got together to match them and we ordered them to match their clothes too. I also chose to order a hairpiece for her. Not required of course. It can be costly but its teaching them etiquette for formal dating events later in life which they can take into their adult years. I would not spend this kind of money without both sets of parents being involved as many kids at Freshman level do not have jobs to support the cost. Just my opinion though. Some of the other kids did not do flowers or did not know what a boutiner or corsage was. This was good training etc. They learn to pin it on the boys and the boys and girls can learn acceptable dating expectations. Very much a Miss manners type event. Other kids are always judging at the teen level about who has the best or biggest this or that . Not necessarily right but teens are big on this. We also have some beautiful pictures as memories, as we went to a beautiful park to take pictures as a group with a group of kids..

 

[twooley2]

You mean only us Texans wear mums for Homecoming???No one else does that???

I think in Oklahoma too..

 

[Sandy321]

In NW Indiana the High School I went to in the 70's did "Football Mums" BUT nothing - not even close to what y'all do in Texas!!

Now here in the NW Suburbs of Chicago the high school dd went to did wrist corsages, and boutonnieres - DS said his friends in a south suburb of Chicago did the hand held Bridesmaid style flowers!! For Homecoming!! He was glad he asked ahead of time!

you may be able to call the school and iquire what the tradition is there.

 

[twooley2]

In NW Indiana the High School I went to in the 70's did "Football Mums" BUT nothing - not even close to what y'all do in Texas!!

Now here in the NW Suburbs of Chicago the high school dd went to did wrist corsages, and boutonnieres - DS said his friends in a south suburb of Chicago did the hand held Bridesmaid style flowers!! For Homecoming!! He was glad he asked ahead of time!

you may be able to call the school and iquire what the tradition is there.

When We first moved to TX I was shocked to see these mums they looked so bizarre to me but over time the idea has grown on me. Seemed like no reason behind it so I looked it up and this is what came up

The first homecoming mums were given in the early 1930's at high school homecoming football games across Texas. Boys offered real chrysanthemum flowers to their dates in the form of a corsage. A chrysanthemum is a very large, rare, and beautiful flower, and to receive one was a sure sign of flattery as well as an unusual circumstance in those times. Even early on, girls competed with one another to receive mums, as they were given out in limited quantities. Mums were a sign of popularity, so girls that received mums confirmed their social status.

from an article on EzineArticles

 

[minnierocks]

NE Ohio here...Yes, flowers are still traditional for homecoming. Most of the girls wear wrist corsages.

 

[windycitymom]

My son was asked to a girl's Homecoming dance and he got her a wrist corsage (ok, I ordered it and paid for it I always get a wrist corsage of mini roses with the ribbon that matches the color of the girl's dress. The florist I use even has a football charm that she adds to it. She got him a boutinnere. When going to a homecoming or prom, I think a young man should always bring a girl a wrist corsage (or some type of flowers) regardless of their dating status and whether or not she gets one for him. That's what I've taught my sons. The flowers look nice in the photos taken before the dance. By the end of the night, the flowers are a goner

 

[Styx Fan]

My kids haven't gone yet, but judging from all the kids pictures I saw on Facebook, most of them had flowers. Both boys and girls. Not sure who pays as most of the kids I knew went in groups instead of with dates.

I'm in Southeast Michigan.

 

[MickeyManiac]

My son just went to Homecoming a couple of weeks ago and wrist corsages and boutonnieres are the norm. I can't believe how expensive corsages are now. We always spend $30-$40. Sadly they usually fall apart or wilt by the end of the evening. Oh and we're in Utah

 

[wdwmom0f3]

The girls wear the corsages here, but the boys do not wear a flower. ( Alabama)

 

[angierae]

DD is 16 and about to go to her third homecoming on Saturday. She's never gotten flowers, but she never goes with a date, either - she's got a group of 10-12 kids who attend dances together. (She's got a BF this year but he "doesn't do dances". Heh.)

 

[Motherofboys]

My kids haven't gone yet, but judging from all the kids pictures I saw on Facebook, most of them had flowers. Both boys and girls. Not sure who pays as most of the kids I knew went in groups instead of with dates.

I'm in Southeast Michigan.

I am in SE Michigan too and my son went a couple of weekends ago with a date. No flowers here, he said the kids only do them for prom.

Made me glad since I would've been the one buying the corsage anyway He paid for his date's ticket to the dance (well I actually paid for the tickets, I can't wait until he can get a summer job, high school social lives are expensive! )

 

[Praying Colonel]

You mean only us Texans wear mums for Homecoming???No one else does that???

That was a tradition for us at my high school in Kentucky--back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and dirt was still in research & development.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

My boys had their homecoming last weekend and we got wrist corsages for the girls. They were $20 a pop and were beautiful. The girls did not get my boys boutinaires. I wish the girls mothers would have thought about the boys as much as I thought about their girls and matching the ribbon to their dresses....ugh!
BTW we are in SE Michigan.

 

[mom2val]

.

 

[Macprincess]

I'm in south west FL. My son just had his first Homecoming dance last weekend. Yes, the kids did give corsages and boutinaires to eachother. One of his friends Mom's actually made and sold these to the teens really cheap. The wrist corsage he ordered (paid for out of his own money) was only $18.00 and very nice.