KATY MAGAZINE I October 2018
By Jennifer Lynn Greenway and Katrina Katsarelis
(Photo courtesy of Rebecca Fox)
For decades, Homecoming has been a fun-filled, festive Katy Texas tradition that teens, parents, and football fans always look forward to.
Here's your Katy guide to all the pageantry and many details of Homecoming Week: The game, the dance, the mums, and other must knows about Katy's favorite football tradition.
HOW TO ASK
Gone are the days where a boy calls or asks a girl in person if she would like to go to the Homecoming dance. Creativity is key when it comes to asking your date, and Katy students have been know to decorate cars, use giant yard signs, set up scavenger hunts, and more. It's still most common for boys to ask girls. Even if a couple is already established, there is still a ceremonial "asking" to the homecoming dance. If you haven't asked your date yet, here are over 667 Pinterest ideas.
(Gizelle Caraballo says yes to Coleman Atkins. Lighted votives on her lawn.)
The Mum Tradition
If you just moved to Katy, you're in for a shock. The size and expense parents go to for mum decor can be alarming. Get ready to spend $50-300 depending on the grade level and gender of the mum recipient. (Boys spend much more buying mums for their dates than girls). Usually freshmen and sophomore girls are given a single mum in the school color, juniors get a double mum in silver, and seniors get a triple mum in gold.
The bigger and gaudier the mum, the happier a girl will be. A senior girl's mum can literally be larger than she is after all the trinkets and treasures are added. The finished mum will include 1-3 huge flowers (silk has now replaced real), LOTS of ribbons, charms, bows, bells, cowbells, stuffed animals, perhaps the high school mascot, LED lights and even music in some cases! Guys are given a smaller version of the mum, called the garter. The garter is worn around the arm and is much less elaborate and expensive. You can make your date’s mum yourself or you can purchase from your school’s band or other booster club who frequently sell mums as fundraisers. There are many custom options and add-ons you can purchase to completely personalize your date’s mum. (Don't forget to enter Katy Magazine's MEGA MUM Contest for a great prize pack. Details below).
Mum EXCHANGE DAY
At some point before game day, couples will meet at a designated place to exchange their mums as parents feverishly snap photos. Sometimes students will meet in their pre-planned homecoming groups for photos on mum exchange day, but there is always a designated formal mum exchange ritual.
WHAT TO WEAR/TRENDS
DAY OF THE GAME - For Homecoming game day, it's casual. Spirit wear and jeans, or overalls to hold up their heavy mums. Overalls or jeans are frequently decorated in school spirit colors and sayings. The sound of hundreds of mum bells ringing through the high school halls in Katy can be deafening on homecoming game day.
Generally mums, spirit wear, and overalls are worn to the homecoming game as well. Many students buy used overalls and self-decorate them for the big day. Others order them and have them customized. Prices for the finished overalls begin at $225 and can run over $500 with the average being $285. Trevor Thorson with KraftyMommas says the overalls are most popular at Cinco Ranch and Taylor High Schools. although you will see them at all the Katy high schools.
(Homecoming Overall photo by KraftyMommas)
THE DANCE ATTIRE - For the dance attire, most girls wear short dresses to Homecoming, although you will see long dresses and even high/low styles too in any color. WARNING: Girls definitely have to be mindful of school dance dress codes or they may not be allowed into the dance. Casual dresses can be as low as $50 but for a more glitzy style, a parent can expect to spend upwards of $200-$300 on a dress. Sometimes friends will borrow from one another or buy a dress second hand to save costs. Many girls will want to get their hair, make up, and nails professionally done for the dance adding more expense for weary parents.
A boy's attire is also seen as a peek into his personality. Usually a button down shirt is key with or without a bowtie/tie. Jeans or slacks are common being finished off with a great pair of shoes such as dress shoes or converse. Frequently when a couple attends together, they will match/color code their outfits in some way. Corsages and boutonnieres are worn by some but not all students. Just like the dress/suit, it's all about the person and their style.
Homecoming is not just for couples, it's also acceptable for students to go alone or in groups of same sex friends. Just have fun!
PICTURES
In the past few years, pictures have become more creative. Katy has many beautiful and historical places to capture the moment. Most parents have enough photography skills to take some memorable pictures. In those cases where a backup plan is needed, professional photographers are available at the Homecoming dance. Click here for a list of Katy locations to take your memorable Homecoming picture.
(Photo taken at Katy Train Park)
THEME DAYS
Each school will have a week's worth of theme days where the students get the opportunity to dress up and will commence in mum wearing the day of the game. For example, this year Cinco Ranch has the following theme days.
Monday: REPRESENT YOUR HOME-LAND – Patriotic Day
Tuesday: THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME – PJ Day
Wednesday: HOME AWAY FROM HOME – Tourist Attire
Thursday: MATCHING WITH YOUR HOMIES – Twin Day
Friday: WHO’S HOUSE? COUGS HOUSE! – Maroon Out! Mums & Garters Day
OVERALL COST
Homecoming is the biggest expense of a high school student even over Prom. On the low end the average students spends between $100 - $200 but costs can run a student over $1,000.
Theme Week Attire: FREE - endless
Game Day Overalls: around $285
Game Tickets: $10 each
Dress for Dance: $50 - $300
Other Accessories (shoes, jewelry, etc): $50 - $100
Garter/Mums: $50 - $300
Boys Attire for Dance: - $50 - $200
Homecoming Tickets: $10 each
Pictures: FREE - $30
Dinner Before Dance: $25 - endless
Hair, make up and nails: $100-300
KATY AREA HIGH SCHOOL HOMECOMING SCHEDULE
Following is Katy ISD's homecoming game schedule for 2018.
Katy - Friday, September 14
Mayde Creek - Friday, September 14
Cinco Ranch - Friday, September 21
Seven Lakes - Friday, October 5
Tompkins - Thursday, October 11
Taylor - Friday, October 19
Morton Ranch - Friday, November 2
Paetow - Friday, November 9
ENTER KATY MAGAZINE'S MEGA MUM CONTEST - Announced on 10/16/18
Enter Katy Magazine’s MEGA MUM CONTEST! Win a $50 gift card to Fish City Grill courtesy of Texas Food Review and other fun gift pack items. Post your mum photo in the comments below or email to editor@katymagazine.com