GARLAND, Texas — “Mum” is the word at Garland’s newest exhibit celebrating a homecoming tradition born deep in the heart of Texas.
The MUMENTOUS exhibit explores the 100-year tradition of mums and how they came to be a popular homecoming staple in Texas.
The exhibit’s photography and narratives touch on many topics including the emergence of high school football, fan and pop culture, the DIY movement, entrepreneurship and women as tradition-keepers.
The free exhibit will be on display at Garland City Hall through October 12.
It will also host events such as mum and garter-making clinics, a homecoming film series and a book signing by author Amy Schultz. A full list of the events can be found online here. There will also be various mums on display, including an 18-foot-tall, six-foot-wide one in the lobby of city hall.
The mum exhibit is based on research from Schultz's 2023 book MUMENTOUS: Original Photos and Mostly True Stories About Football, Glue Guns, Moms, and a Super-Sized High School Tradition That Was Born Deep in the Heart of Texas.
“Throughout my research, I discovered just how powerful, funny, personal, and utterly relatable mums can be," Schultz said.
Back in the day, a homecoming mum was a simple corsage for homecoming or even for prom. These days, however, homecoming mums have taken on a whole other life of their own.
In October 2023, Lewisville High School broke the Guinness World Record for the largest mum. It took nine weeks to complete, and measured at 300 sq. feet. The base alone was 8 feet wide!
The record-breaking mum was created to celebrate that school's 125th anniversary.