Homecoming Mum

[NHdisneylover]

Boy are thos things GARISH! Ugh!

I agree it is mostly harmless (though the cost, for somethign that can't even be worn again like a dress seems both wasteful and like it would be really hard for kids whose families cannot afford this--I assume you can't buy a mum at a consignment shop).

That said--now I can't wait to see the Dr Who / HArry Potter one you have made for your DD. My DD is a big fan of both too (though she is also sitting here astounded by how the mum tradition ever got going and into this ).

 

[Cindy B]

Oh my is right! How do they wear that all day in school? Isn't it distracting to try to teach? Isn't it more of a one-up kind of thing?


Those homecoming mums would look excellently in the Philadelphia Mummers Day parade.


The only mums I saw was homecoming at my university- they put them in a pattern outside the buildings.

 

[bittybabygrower]

I miss all the homecoming fun from my hometown. We live in DH's hometown and they have zero tradition! No mums, no homecoming floats I hate it

I loved my mums, especially the one I had for senior year homecoming!!

 

[aprilgail2]

I hate the word tacky because it's way overused and most times people should use the word different instead. HOWEVER, if I was ever going to use it to describe something..this would be the time.

I wouldn't say tacky as tacky to me infers improper with no taste, however, that said, the word hideous came to mind the first time I laid eyes on a mum last year

Oh I think tacky is the PERFECT word for them LOL---

Dear God yes. I have lived in Texas for awhile and I think they are the most God awful looking things. Tacky is absolutely the correct word.

I have no idea how to post pictures but this is a great link with a ton of "Mum" pictures. Go ahead, check em out......I dare ya!

https://www.google.com/search?q=texas+mums&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS481US481&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cOAwUon7CujD2QWsyYC4Aw&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=899&dpr=1

Wow those are REALLY bad-I can't imagine people wanting to wear something SO ugly!!

Okay...these are so horrendously ugly. And I'm really not trying to offend anyone, I promise. I just don't get how wearing this giant thing around your neck all day is cute...or a "tradition"...when it seems so far from the original idea. And with the bears...don't get me started....to each his own, but if a kid showed up to homecoming at a high school near me, the other kids would be so confused.

 

[Kies99]

I hate the word tacky because it's way overused and most times people should use the word different instead. HOWEVER, if I was ever going to use it to describe something..this would be the time.

I had to Google what these were and I agree!

 

[NotUrsula]

This NPR story is great, especially the photo gallery, which are professional photos by someone doing a study of the phenomenon. The pic of the "leaping headless drum major" is absolutely priceless!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/picturesho...7/go-big-or-go-homecoming-supersized-corsages

 

[KatheeME]

I haven't read this entire thread yet, but can someone post some pictures? I have never heard of anything like this!

 

[KatheeME]

As to the Texas Mum being tacky, I'm not sure. I kind of think it goes so far into tackiness that it somehow transcends it and migrates into the realm of the surreal. They are just SO strange ...

This blog entry from the Houston Press is pretty funny: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2010/10/football_mums_texas.php

I've got to admit it; I'm grateful as can be that around here a homecoming mum is still just a flower corsage with a little football charm attached to it.

(The real ones were popular at my school back in the dark ages as well; but I never had one. I was in band and had to perform at the game, and the rule for us was that the only corsages allowed were wrist corsages. As the school's color was orange, we always had marigolds on those instead of mums, because the petals on mums fall off too easily.)

Oh my ... this seems tacky and prehistoric ... kids actually want these things?

 

[KatheeME]

OK, now I am officially frightened!

 

[Piper]

It really is a shame that what was once really a really pretty and inexpensive tradition has now become so expensive and ridiculous! It reminds me of the way every holiday has now become so commercialized. What used to be fun celebrations have now become big business!

BTW--proms used to be affordable, too! Remember I am talking the "dark ages of the late 50's and early 60's!

 

[KatheeME]

Where is the tag fairy when you need her!

Why would any young woman want a cow bell on her chest? That's so wrong, in so many ways

 

[Pooh67_68]

I haven't read this entire thread yet, but can someone post some pictures? I have never heard of anything like this!

All kinds of pictures at this link.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=texas+mums&qpvt=texas+mums&FORM=IGRE

 

[KatheeME]

I have no idea how to post pictures but this is a great link with a ton of "Mum" pictures. Go ahead, check em out......I dare ya!

https://www.google.com/search?q=texas+mums&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS481US481&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cOAwUon7CujD2QWsyYC4Aw&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=899&dpr=1

Okay, I have to say it, this is the MOST bizarre thing I have seen in a long time.

 

[KAMLEM]

It's a Texas thing, y'all.

I guess so! I would hate to see what would happen to a girl around here if she showed up to homecoming wearing one of those!

 

[Piper]

It really is a shame that what was once really a really pretty and inexpensive tradition has now become so expensive and ridiculous! It reminds me of the way every holiday has now become so commercialized. What used to be fun celebrations have now become big business!

BTW--proms used to be affordable, too! Remember I am talking the "dark ages of the late 50's and early 60's!

 

[Gina]

It's a Texas thing, y'all.

Exactly.

Mums are great fun, harmless, and a huge tradition for a looooong time in this great state. The saying "everything's bigger in Texas" persists because it's true. Some of the mums are spectacles, some are really pretty. They do get "blingier" every year -- I was surprised at last year's game to see so many of them that lit up. All are big. And the girls absolutely love them.

I graduated early and didn't get to have a mum, but shortly after that my daddy got me a big one to wear to an Aggie game (can't remember the reason, but everyone had them), and I cherished that mum for years and years -- as much because I wanted to be a part of that mum tradition as because it was from my daddy. It's just a very big deal!

 

[mamacatnv]

I haven't read this entire thread yet, but can someone post some pictures? I have never heard of anything like this!

Exactly.

Mums are great fun, harmless, and a huge tradition for a looooong time in this great state. The saying "everything's bigger in Texas" persists because it's true. Some of the mums are spectacles, some are really pretty. They do get "blingier" every year -- I was surprised at last year's game to see so many of them that lit up. All are big. And the girls absolutely love them.

I graduated early and didn't get to have a mum, but shortly after that my daddy got me a big one to wear to an Aggie game (can't remember the reason, but everyone had them), and I cherished that mum for years and years -- as much because I wanted to be a part of that mum tradition as because it was from my daddy. It's just a very big deal!

Ahhh what a great memory.
The girls are VERY excited. I was in the mall at Hot Topic picking up a few trinkets for DD's mum and the girl helping me was mum clueless but her co-worker (teenager) piped up as soon as she heard it was for a mum. She said very excitedly, "your DD's first mum?!? Ohhhh how awesome, she is going to love it!" That exchange erased a bit of the doubt and hesitation I had regarding this *cough *cough unusual tradition

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

It's a Texas thing, y'all.

Exactly.

Mums are great fun, harmless, and a huge tradition for a looooong time in this great state. The saying "everything's bigger in Texas" persists because it's true. Some of the mums are spectacles, some are really pretty. They do get "blingier" every year -- I was surprised at last year's game to see so many of them that lit up. All are big. And the girls absolutely love them.

I graduated early and didn't get to have a mum, but shortly after that my daddy got me a big one to wear to an Aggie game (can't remember the reason, but everyone had them), and I cherished that mum for years and years -- as much because I wanted to be a part of that mum tradition as because it was from my daddy. It's just a very big deal!

Loved this post. Men used to get them for their dates for every Aggie game, but that stopped a while ago. Kind of wish it still continued, though.



I have grown up in Texas and I have pictures of me at two years old wearing a mum to the local high school football game. I had one every year. By the time middle and high school rolled around, you had to pin that sucker to your bra to keep it from pulling your shirt down. Then, some girls in high school figured out the solution to the problem: an over-the-shoulder mum! No joke, they got about 5 of those flowers, hot glued them together, and it started back on their scapula and draped over their shoulder. Then the ribbons still hung down to the floor. Thank goodness that trend didn't make it to the next year.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I think it's a silly, harmless tradition. Sure some are gaudy, but it's just kids having some wholesome fun. I wish we did it up north!

 

[KristaTX]

Ever since I've been keeping up with this thread, I've had the song "Everybody, Run! The homecoming queen's got a MUM" going through my head . (I know the real word is "gun", but I think "mum" is funnier.)

It's a strange but fun tradition. And it's not just Texas. It's a tradition in Oklahoma, too. I never had one, but I think the more personalized they get, the more entertaining it is.