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The Texas tradition of homecoming mums
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Mums have become a staple for the homecoming season. | Photo by FTWtoday
Homecoming season is here — and if you’re from Texas, you know it’s more than just football and alumni events. Homecoming mums have been a tradition in Texas since the early 1900s and have since become a statement-making hallmark of high school life in the Lone Star State.

Here’s a look back at the tradition + where to get one made in Fort Worth.

What is a homecoming mum?
For those of you who are new to the area, you might be wondering what we’re talking about. Mums are considered a token of affection — typically given to a girl by her date in honor of homecoming celebrations. Traditionally, students will wear a mum to school on homecoming Friday, the football game, and other alumni events.

The start of a Texas tradition
According to Texas Highways, the first mums were worn at homecoming in Missouri in 1911. The tradition became popular in Texas in the 1930s when Baylor University hosted the first-ever homecoming celebration in the state.

Back in the day, a mum was a simple chrysanthemum with a few ribbons that would be pinned to a girl’s clothing. But nowadays, the gaudier the better.

Real flowers have been replaced with artificial ones so students can have the mum as a keepsake. Accessories include school-colored ribbons, stuffed animals, bells, battery-operated lights, feathers, and different trinkets highlighting the student’s hobbies. Although not as elaborate as a girl’s mum, boys will receive a garter to wear on their arm with ribbons and other smaller trinkets similar to a mum.

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City Editors Rebecca and Kate wearing their high school mums. | Photo by FTWtoday


A blooming business
Today, Texans can turn to professional mum makers to create their homecoming masterpiece. Depending on size and accessories, mums can range anywhere from $10 to upwards of $600 — yes, really $600. Watch this video of students detailing how much their mums cost.

If you’re looking to get one made, here are a few local shops around Fort Worth.
If you attended high school in Texas and have a photo of you wearing your mum — share it with us. We might feature it in a future edition of the newsletter.
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Today
  • Texas Rangers | Wed., Oct. 5 | 3:05 p.m. | Globe Life Field, 734 Stadium Dr., Arlington | $35.00 - $160.00 | The Rangers are going to bat against the New York Yankees.
  • Westside Farmers Market | Wed., Oct. 5 | 2-6 p.m. | Westside Presbyterian Church, 8700 Chapin Rd., Fort Worth | Cost of purchase | Stock up on fresh produce for your weekly recipes.
Thursday
  • Movies That Matter Film Screening | Thu., Oct. 6 | 7-9:30 p.m. | The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth | Free | Catch a free screening during the bi-weekly film series that highlights human and civil rights issues.
Friday
  • Ariat Texas Rattlers | Fri., Oct. 7 - Sun., Oct. 9 | Dickies Arena, 1911 Montgomery St., Fort Worth | $26.00 | Fort Worth’s own PBR team will battle for all eight seconds.
  • Live Music | Fri., Oct. 7 - Sat., Oct. 8 | 6-9 p.m. | Sundance Square Plaza, Fort Worth | Free | Kick off the weekend with a concert in the center of town.
  • Stocktoberfest | Fri., Oct. 7 - Sun., Oct. 9 | 12-9 p.m. | Fort Worth Stockyards, 131 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth | Cost of purchase | Explore the John Wayne: An American Experience Exhibit and receive a complimentary drink at the Cowboy Channel bar.
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How Dating.com can help improve your quality of life
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Dating.com has brought countless happy couples together. (Disclaimer: Models in the ad are for illustrative purposes and are not customers of Dating.com.) | Photo by Dating.com
Did you know? Loneliness has clinical impacts on your health — think: reduced sleep quality, increased blood pressure, and higher rates of depression.

Lasting, meaningful relationships can dramatically increase your quality of life — and Dating.com can help you build them. Their General Dating application helps you connect with like-minded individuals in Fort Worth (and maybe even find your soulmate).

Bonus: Because Dating.com connects people from all over the world, there are lots of exciting new people to meet.*
YOUR SOULMATE IS WAITING

Weather
  • 88º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain
Open
  • You better brie-lieve it — a customizable charcuterie experience is now open in City View Plaza at 4750 Bryant Irvin Rd. Graze Craze specializes in artfully designed platters made for grazing with fruits, vegetables, cheese, crackers, meats, and sweets. The store is open for pick-ups every day of the week. 🧀 (CultureMap Fort Worth)
Eat
  • Taco ‘bout a good time — River Ranch Stockyards is hosting the inaugural Cowtown Taco Throwdown on Sat., Oct. 8 at 11 a.m. A $20 ticket ($10 for kids) includes two tacos, rice and beans, a salsa bar + whiskey tasting. Proceeds will benefit Brotherhood for the Fallen. 🌮
Jobs
  • Lights, camera, action — Film Fort Worth is looking to fill several positions on set of Taylor Sheridan’s new series “Bass Reeves.” Open positions include a location manager, costume seamstress, graphic designer + more. Click here to send your resume. 🎬
Health
  • The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth was awarded nearly $149 million to hold a five-year study of Alzheimer’s disease. The study is one of the largest ever to be conducted + aims to better understand how the disease affects different racial and ethnic groups. 🩺
Pets
  • Give a round of a-paws — the city is waiving adoption fees for dogs larger than 40 lbs for the entire month of October. All dogs have been spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, and vaccinated. Find a shelter near you + view the available pets. 🐶
Biz
  • Campo Verde — the popular Arlington Mexican restaurant with over-the-top Christmas decor — has a new owner. Founder James Williams retired back in July and sold the 40-year-old landmark to restaurateur Tommy Stewart. Tommy plans to keep the menu the same with some new additions like white cheddar queso and salsa verde enchiladas. 🍽️ (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
Holiday
  • The GM Financial Parade of Lights is only a few weeks away + the deadline to enter a float is this Fri., Oct. 7. Entries will be judged on creativity, originality, and use of special effects. Enter to participate in the Sun., Nov. 20 parade. 🎄
Concert
  • Mark your calendars, singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is coming to AT&T Stadium next spring on Sat., May 6. Fans can grab tickets to The Mathematics Tour during presale beginning Wed., Oct. 12 with public ticket sales starting Fri., Oct. 14. 🎤
Real Estate
  • A $6.9 million ranch in Cleburne (~30 miles south of downtown) just hit the market. The C7 Ranch has multiple houses, a cutting horse and riding arena, barns, private sporting facilities + an airplane hangar, and a landing strip. ✈️ (PR Newswire)
Number
  • 4 million. The number of subscribers to Morning Brew, a free daily newsletter that covers the latest in business, finance, and tech. Morning Brew is 100% free and takes just 5 minutes to read (and thanks to its witty, fun tone, you’ll want to open it every morning).*
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It’s wine o’clock somewhere 🍷

Fall edition of the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival
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Get cooking with Chef Jenny. | Photo courtesy of Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival
The fall edition of the Fort Worth Food + Wine Festival will kick off later this month. While the full version of the festival is set to take place in the spring, food connoisseurs can enjoy a one-day-only event with chef Jenny Castor, the founder of Luckybee Kitchen.

Chef Jenny will host a two-hour event at The Shops at Clearfork in partnership with Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation on Tues., Oct. 25. A cooking demonstration will teach guests the art of infusion using kitchen staples including salt, honey, and butter to transform sweet and savory dishes from ordinary to extraordinary.

A $125 ticket includes an instructional experience, champagne, food, and a special takeaway gift. The event will kick off at 6 p.m. at Sugarboo & Co. at 5270 Monahans Ave.
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Rebecca.

Editor’s pick: DYK that the homecoming mum tradition has expanded to other states including Oklahoma, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. If you grew up outside of Texas and celebrated homecoming with a mum, let us know where + share your story with us.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? The FTWtoday team spent a full day at the fair and we’re sharing our Editor Picks.
Read More
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Editorial: Rebecca McRobbie, Kate Mazade, Dayten Rose, Emily Shea, Ashlea Hearn, Josh Kranzberg | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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