Holly Bailey

When photographer Nancy Newberry broke both of her hands in a car accident, she returned to her childhood home in Texas to recuperate. One day, while going through a box of relics, she came across a photograph reminiscent of one she had taken of a girl wearing a homecoming mum. Newberry decided then she needed to further explore the ritual of mum exchange.

In Texas, mums (short for chrysanthemum) used in elaborate corsages are often exchanged by high-school friends during homecoming, saved, and then pined to the recipients’ bedroom walls. Over time, the tradition has evolved from the giving of simple flowers to more elaborate creations with ribbons and giant silk flowers, often decorated with other symbols that represent the interest of the giver, social standing, or allegiance to friends. Both girls and boys participate in the ritual.

Capturing the Texas Tradition of Homecoming Mums (via Slate)