The Homecoming Mum

After band/color guard practice last night, J.T. gave Emily a Homecoming Mum...a highly coveted thing among Texas high schoolers. (Yes, Emily looks like she just rolled out of bed in this photo. She had!

This was taken at 6:15 this morning before she went to Color Guard practice!)

Emily and I had no idea what she was supposed to do with this GIGANTIC thing next. Is it something you actually wear? It's at least 3 feet long (it hangs from her shoulder to her knees) with tiny cow bells and other little trinkets tied among the ribbons! She sounds like a one-man band when wearing it. If she was supposed to wear it, was it for school tomorrow (today)? Was it for the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night? Or is it just a keepsake?

We were in foreign territory so I immediately scoured the internet looking for answers. I found out that the Homecoming Mum is a Texas tradition that started in the 1920s. Of course I should have known it originated in Texas since everything is bigger in Texas, right? Ha, ha! The Homecoming Mums are given to you by someone that thinks you are "special." Yep, you wouldn't buy these for just anyone since they start at $30 and go up from there! Anyway, the girl is supposed to wear it to school (if her campus allows) and to the Homecoming Game. It is not to wear to the dance. She, apparently, will receive a live flower corsage for that.

close-up of the mum with a red bronco in the center

plentiful ribbons and tiny trinkets like cow bells, footballs,

horseshoes, etc. and then personalized with sparkly letters

Oh, and I got to meet J.T. after he gave her the mum. He seems very nice! He was extremely polite and friendly...he even held out his hand to shake mine when I introduced myself. So far, so good.