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I know you might be thinking, WHAT even is that mess of ribbon, feathers, flowers…and are those LED lights?! Trust me, that was my first thought too. But after diving deeper, I discovered my newest yearly obsession, one I now look forward to seeing in my feed every October: Texas homecoming mums, an oversized wearable corsage exchanged between high schoolers, friends, and family to celebrate homecoming week.

Under all the bells and whistles (literally), mums actually began as a simple tradition. In the early 1900s, chrysanthemums decorated with ribbons were exchanged between homecoming dates at university football games. After the tradition made its way into local high schools, it took on a life of its own. By the 1980s, mums had evolved into the elaborate displays of school spirit we see today, worn around the neck on the day of the homecoming football game. The idea? Bigger is better. No mum is complete without bells, LED lights, stuffed animals, and noisemakers, costing anywhere between $50- $500. And, of course they only get bigger and bolder from freshman to senior year.

Mums aren’t just flaunted within the walls of the high schools, this tradition brings entire Texan communities together. Seasoned mum-makers pool together supplies, swap tips and tricks, and spend afternoons together crafting the perfect mum for their daughters, sons’ homecoming dates, or friends of neighbors in need of a kickass mum. Specialty mum shops boom with business, like The Mum Shop boasting over 42 years of service in Allen, Texas, and professional mum artists like Christy Bryson craft over 120 mums in a homecoming season. By the time the Friday night lights flip on, the tradition spills into the streets where kids of all ages join in on the fun by wearing mini-mums to watch the homecoming parade or football game!

What appears to be “doing the most” and has been mocked on social media is actually deeper than the bells and whistles. Mums are wearable, expressive scrapbooks of your time in high school. Custom-made with your name, graduation year, sports, activities, and achievements, they’re a time capsule of high school memories, a celebration of individuality, and a tradition that brings a community together. Every ribbon, trinket, and charm tells a story about the person you’re becoming. In a time when milestones are often reduced to a quick social media post, there’s something grounding about a tradition you can actually hold in your hands.

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Before judging the time and money that go into these mums, maybe we should recognize the care behind them. Whenever I see a chatty mob of teens dressed to the nines at my local Italian restaurant, I’m reminded of some of the most awkward, but fun, years of my life. Growing up in Richmond, VA, our homecoming traditions felt more like something to get through than something to celebrate. Looking back, I wish we’d embraced a little more of the Texas spirit: leaning into the cringe, being extra, and celebrating these milestones without worrying about being “too much.”