IzumiHuangFujiwara

Traditions last a lifetime but the homecoming mum’s legacy died in its early stages. From dressing up more extravagantly for Gnimocemoh or creating special crafts that represent a person, there have been many trends that have walked the halls of Marian. 

The homecoming mum is a former tradition of Marian. The tradition is the creation of a fake flower representing oneself. This intricate decoration is a symbol of school spirit and identity. Lasting from 2020-2023, the mums were meaningful in that they were connected to a broader context than Omaha. 

The history behind these flowers begins in Texas. Based on the flower mum, they are made of ribbons, glue and staples. The colors of the mum often reflected the creator’s high school’s spirit colors. Gold and silver are specifically reserved for seniors. 

Librarian Mrs. Molly Raabe and English teacher Mrs. Megan Gillespie were crafters of the Crusader mum experiment. They  tried to kickstart this tradition in 2020.

Raabe shares her thought process, “We just renovated everything. It was very bare you couldn’t put a lot on the locker because it was just painted. The only place with color was the freshman hallway.” Then, “Ms. Rohlfs gave the green light and we started.” This then started the attempt at popularizing the homecoming mum at Marian.

“I felt we could put our stamp on homecoming in a completely unique way,” Gillespie said.

Due to some of her family being from the south she “was familiar with the homecoming mum”  and because Marian girls “love bright colors and are creative” she “went to Mrs. Raabe and asked if she could help me get it off the ground.”

The way these teachers had accomplished this was through CABs or bringing homerooms to the library, but unfortunately, the tradition was short-lived. Marian, being unique, has very different traditions for the typical homecoming experience. Gillespie explained, “We put so much effort into Walk-A-Thon the commitment would be something hard to ask.”

“I came from a co-ed high school and homecoming was a huge deal…we are coming home and celebrating our school’s traditions,” Gillespie said. 

According to Gillespie, Marian’s Gnimocemoh is a “completely different beast, in a good way,” giving another reason as to why Marian is so unique. 

Gillespie concluded, “Because it’s Gnimocemoh and not homecoming, we don’t have to do everything like everyone else.”

Homecoming mums help express a creative outlet about oneself but Marian sisterhood will always be the longest-lasting tradition of all.