TEAM MUM WATCH 2024
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click for current tally
!
TEAM MUM WATCH 2024 ! click for current tally !
The closest you'll ever get to seeing someone actually wear their heart on their sleeve is in Texas, every fall, at the local high school homecoming game.
They're called homecoming mums.
They are as bodacious as football, irresistible as a juicy rumor, and deep as a mama's love.
Texas women wrote the story.
Now there’s an award-winning 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
“I grew up in Texas, where mum-mania seems normal, so I wondered if the book would tell me anything I didn't already know... but I couldn't put MUMENTOUS down!”
— Laura St. James, author
as seen on
What is a Homecoming Mum in Texas?
Over a hundred years ago when the custom began, mum was short for chrysanthemum, a typical corsage that boys gave to girls before taking them to the big football game. But through the decades, mum went from a simple abbreviation to a complicated shorthand for an eye-popping tradition that’s as ingrained in the culture as it is confounding to outsiders.
If you’re not from Texas, you’ve got questions.
Visit the blog for answers.
mum·en·tous / məmˈen(t)əs / a made-up adjective
1. (derived from “momentous”) of great importance or significance, especially in its bearing on the future
2. a complex portmanteau suggesting that “what the mums meant to us” was, in fact, momentous
Through her extensive and on-going research, original photography, and collection of stories from across and beyond the Lone Star State, award-winning author and photographer Amy J. Schultz takes us deep in the heart of mum country. You’ll meet kids who wear them, parents who buy them, and critics who decry them as just another example of consumerism gone wild. But mostly, you’ll discover that just like every ritual which stands the test of time, someone is keeping the tradition alive.
Someone like Mom.
Three Cheers for MUMENTOUS
MUMENTOUS is a winner! The Literary Titan Silver Award is “bestowed on books that expertly deliver complex characters, intricate worlds, and thought provoking themes. The ease with which the story is told is a reflection of the author’s talent in exercising fluent, powerful, and appropriate language. Our honorees astound and amaze us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. ”
— Literary Titan, Silver Award
“Author and award-winning photographer Schultz offers an intriguing guide to the world of homecoming mums, bringing together history and fantastical stories to paint a vivid picture of the tradition in her marvelous book. From homecoming custom, the history of homecoming mums, their significance to their transformation from a simple abbreviation to a complicated shorthand for an eye-popping tradition ingrained deeply in the culture, Schultz explores every aspect of the process in this appealing and compelling narration…. (click for full review)”
— BookView Review, Gold Level Recommendation
“(I) loved the author's dedication. She uses her writing and photography skills to educate people about mums and adds commentary about her emotional connection to the homecoming tradition, which shows her passion for the topic. The black and white photos gave the book a nostalgic feel and complemented the text. The topic of mums makes this book unique, and the stories surrounding the tradition add an authentic and emotional background that many readers will resonate with… Traditions give us a sense of belonging, and their continuity is a testament to our preservation of history… Brilliant work.”
— Readers' Favorite, Bronze Award