Behold, the Mum!

After my evening in the rival High School's parking lot on the night of a Homecoming game, I became completely fascinated with the monstrosity that has evolved into, "The Texas Mum."

Some may argue this point, but, although high schools all over this country celebrate homecoming games in a variety of sports, Texas is the southern State which celebrates the tradition of the Mum with the most vigor, and in Texas, homecoming and football go hand in hand.

So what is a Mum? Well, a chrysanthemum is simply a pretty flower, originally given by a smitten boy to his one and only to wear as a corsage. Cute, right? But this, is a modern Mum:

This Mum, in fact, cost the proud owner close to $200.00 dollars and was assembled at a store so that nobody had to litter their table with ribbons, feathers, hot glue, and enough knick knacks for Kindergarten craft day.

www.kathyiscrafty.net These examples, however, are handmade by the very young ladies who wore them to the Homecoming game. These girls, whose Mum's grow in size as they advance in grade, spend hours (which in my mind could be better spent on homework, or paying the Tuba, or tormenting the cat) gluing these scraps together into either super girly or super patriotic, or super school spirit, human wreaths, to be worn hanging around one's neck....resembling a cross between a Vegas show girl, a toddler, a pageant queen, and a drag queen.

 

This Mum takes the cake, hides the girl, freaks me out, makes me afraid for humanity, and costs more than a small car. This Mum can only be found in Texas. If you find one in another state, please destroy it ASAP.www.thedomesticcurator.com 

I would not be doing complete homage to the story of the Mum if I did not explain that the Mum has a natural companion called "the garter," and no, the garter is not worn by girls, it is worn by boys. Boys (supposedly) make Mums for their girlfriends. In reality, their mothers make them, or their girlfriends simply take over so that their adorable teddy bear is not boorishly nailed to the Mum rather than oh so gently applied with a hot glue gun. Girls make the garters to match their own Mum, for the boys to wear.....on their upper arm. This has been but a brief explanation of the phenomenon which takes over Texas from mid September to late October, and I still have much to learn. This year my daughter went to both the game and the dance without a Mum; next year, I may not be so lucky!!