Homecoming
​​
What are homecoming mums?
Homecoming Mums (typically for girls), Homecoming Garters (typically for boys) and Homecoming Boutonnières/Mini Mums/Wristlets (typical for friends, dance/drill teammates, friends, teachers, staff, alumni, family) are a Southern Texas Tradition (it's now expanded out to other states such as Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alabama) as a high school tradition showing school pride during homecoming game weekend. It originally started as a fresh chrysanthemum with ribbons. Today, they display a variety of trinkets and items representing the students' interests, hobbies, organizations and any items they'd like to personalize their mum/garter. School spirit can be also be shown as earrings, rings, hair accessories and as decorations for water bottles, Stanley cups, face masks, backpacks, lockers, etc.
Who gets a mum/garter?
Middle School and High School students, teammates, teachers, staff, alumni, parents and family are all welcome to wear a mum or garter! You can buy one yourself and customize it.
​
Frequently, mums and garters are purchased by Homecoming dates (for example, the girl would order a garter for her date and he would order a mum for her), and they do an "exchange" before homecoming weekend.​ Note that you don't need to have a "date" to Homecoming game or dance to wear a mum or garter! Everyone is encouraged to join in the Homecoming spirit!
​
The more the merrier. Who says you can only have one mum? At some high schools in Texas, it’s not unusual to see students wearing two, three, or more smaller mums on homecoming day. At those schools, it’s a convention for students to receive mums from friends, teachers and/or advisors of certain groups, teammates like cheerleading or marching band, alumni or by family. The point here is that small mums can fly solo or be worn with others and make great gifts.
FAQs
​
What kind of mum/garter should I get?
Mums and garters are available in a variety of sizes and options. Most school tradition is that freshmen, sophomores and juniors wear the school colors and at some schools the seniors wear specific colors such as gold/white or silver/white mums/garters to signify seniority.
​
When do I wear it?
Mums and garters are worn to school all day at school the day of the homecoming game or the weekend of the dance. They are also worn to the Homecoming football game. Check your school's rules.
How do I wear it?
Mums are worn with a ribbon/strap that goes around your neck or can be pinned depending on the weight. Sometimes they are pinned on denim or a jacket. Mini-mums are pinned to your clothes. Garters are worn on the arm.
​
​