TYLER, Texas — Fall football is something Texas is known for, which goes hand-in-hand with another Texas-sized tradition – homecoming. It’s bigger and better here in the Lone Star State!
"Homecoming I think is unlike anything. Well in Texas, it’s unlike anything anywhere else," said Alan Lefever, director of the Texas Baptist Historical Collection in Waco.
According to Lefever, it’s bigger in Texas because the idea of a homecoming was created in Texas.
"At the time in 1909, no one else had ever done this before. So we are, and this has been verified by the Smithsonian, that Baylor homecoming is the oldest homecoming in America," Lefever said.
It’s a tradition that has now spread across the United States. However one thing remains setting Texas apart – homecoming mums. It’s not confirmed that wearing mums to celebrate homecoming originated in Texas, but they were first photographed at Baylor homecoming in 1936.
"But that’s where it was spotted, right there at Baylor with that green and gold just shining, it was so pretty," said Amber Rogers, owner of ETX Mums.
Rogers lives in Tyler and has a love for homecoming mums that started years ago.
"I’ve been making mums since I was very small, my grandmother taught me, but professionally I’ve been making mums for three years," Rogers said.
Rogers used to live in Georgia, and even then she was spreading the Texas tradition.
"I lived in Atlanta for almost eight years so it was interesting that they didn’t know what homecoming mums were, and I was like ‘oh OK, well let me show you!' And that year I made everyone in the class a mum and a garter and it was just a really cool experience, and they’re keeping the tradition alive," Rogers said.
But it’s more than just making mums to her, it’s an art that she’s mastered. Even still, it certainly keeps her busy this time of year!
"The peak season is September through November. It depends on the size but I try to schedule around a mum a day," Rogers said.
Long days, late nights, thousands of yards of ribbon and staples come together each time to create a unique and one-of-a-kind mum. And even though each is different, there’s one thing about them that Rogers said will never change.
"That feeling that I know it’s a memory, we call them mum-eries, and they really are. And that’s my favorite moment," Rogers said.