mum stories
Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about homecoming mums, one blog post at a time
inspired by the book, Mumentous: Original Photos and Mostly-True Stories About Football, Glue Guns, Moms, and a Supersized High School Tradition That was Born Deep in the Heart of Texas by Amy J. Schultz
The Really Big Picture: Team Mums
This is backstory of Team Mums, aka REALLY big mums. These mums aren’t built to be worn. They’re about shared experiences.
The Top Ten Most Frequently Asked Questions about Homecoming Mums in 2025
May the answers to these questions guide you on your journey to mum enlightenment.
How Big are Texas High School Homecoming Mums in 2025?
Mums are big. Senior mums are bigger. But the majority of homecoming mums in Texas today are probably not as large as you think.
How (and where) do you get a homecoming mum?
First, figure out if you’re buying a mum for yourself, a friend, or a date. Next, decide if you want to buy a ready-made mum, make one yourself, or order a custom mum. You can follow these Pro Tips for each. But please, whatever you do, don’t wait until homecoming week to get started.
Homecoming Playlist, Mum edition
A Texas-style homecoming mum is like a really great playlist that mashes up this exact time in your life with echoes of the past.
The World’s Biggest Homecoming Mum
And the new Guinness World Record for the largest homecoming mum goes to…
What is a Homecoming Mum in Texas?
If you have a wearable flower that is embellished with a spirited array of ribbons and trinkets, you probably have yourself a homecoming mum.
Are homecoming mums only in Texas?
Back in the 1950s, homecoming mums were everywhere. Where are they today?
What goes on a homecoming mum?
Embellishments within a homecoming mum are all about Texas swagger, personal taste, local traditions, and individual style.
History of Homecoming Mums: The OG is a Chrysanthemum
By the early 20th century, many traditions associated with college football—such as pep rallies, marching bands, mascots, dances, and homecomings—were mirrored in high school football. Football was no longer “just” a game. It was a social opportunity.
Senior mums are the ultimate in Texas homecoming mums
Do you remember the feeling of finally, finally, FINALLY being a senior in high school? Every day is the last day of something. For certain seniors, their last homecoming is a very big deal.
What is Homecoming?
Homecoming is a yearly tradition that celebrates school spirit and pride. A time for students, alumni, and the community to come together, homecoming typically involves a football game plus an abundance of other activities and events on the days leading up to and following the game.
What the made-up word “MUMENTOUS” means and other questions about writing a book
The most meaningful part of Mumentous was the moment I first wrote my own mom into the story. It was not something I expected or planned to do. She passed away a few years before I began working on Mumentous, so it was really nice to spend time with her again.
Read a chapter from the book, MUMENTOUS
This century-long evolution of what it means to “go” to homecoming (mums included) has been a long, slow burn stoked by Texas teenagers being teenagers living in the present.
Mumentous author Amy J. Schultz joins publisher Atmosphere Press for a book reading and Q&A
Atmosphere Press hosts a reading and discussion with authors Amy J. Schultz (MUMENTOUS), Vincent J. Tomeo (The Usefulness of Hippopotamus), and Susan Dormady Eisenberg (One More Seat at the Round Table).
Is MUMENTOUS about more than homecoming mums?
Women are society’s tradition-keepers, so whether we’re talking about mums or Christmas trees or packing up the kids to go to Grandma’s house every year, chances are there’s a matriarch making it all happen.
Why I wrote a book about homecoming mums
Yeah, so why did I write a book about the homecoming mum tradition in Texas?