In Texas, each year high school students have a peculiar tradition during homecoming that involves giving extravagantly decorated flowers with attached ribbons, called mums, to others. Originally, this tradition involved real chrysanthemums and couples used this day to express their love and ask their partner to the homecoming dance, but today the situation is quite different.

Nowadays, mums are made with synthetic materials and have evolved to be capable of being worn as boot garters and headbands. As the saying goes, “everything is bigger in Texas” and every year this quota is met either with mums that cost at least $50 each, light up and have 20 bells, or have flowers that are bigger than the width of human shoulders.

“People should be allowed to make as many mums as they want since it’s their money and their way of showing school pride, but I would appreciate it if the bells were limited,” junior Cathy Nguyen said. “I would personally go with smaller ones that are well crafted than a big one that isn’t. But mums are a cool Texas tradition.”

Mum making can also be a fun and rewarding experience.

“Making mums was fun but also a bit confusing at the same time,” senior Hung Huynh said. “I think that was partly due to the structure and orientation of certain components of the mum such as the ribbons, backing, flower, and additional decorations such as the ribbons behind the flower. Also I strive for perfection because everyone will be on top of their game, especially the seniors who go all out. But the hands-on experience of making a mum for my significant other was worth the time and effort.”

With the noisiness of bells and various trinkets, the flowers not only promote friendship but also spirit. At the pep rally and game, students were seen wearing their mums to promote Maverick pride.

“I was more inspired to go to homecoming events such as the pep rally and the homecoming game because mums were an accurate representation of my support for our football team as well as Mav pride,” Huynh said. “At the game, I was cheering for our football team with a glimpse of hope that we might be able to take a victory.”