Inside the state's peculiar tradition of homecoming 'mums' - PHOTO

The elaborate floral arrangements are Homecoming Chrysanthemums - better known as simply 'mums.'Mums began as a small arrangement of real chrysanthemums but now they are so large they obscure the body of the girl wearing them.They're generally pinned to the chest, but sometimes they're so large they have to be worn around the neck.They consist of silk flowers, ribbons, feather boas, soft toys and other items that represent the wearer. Some are even bedecked with LED lights.Newberry's fascinating portraits of teenagers wearing their mums explore the interplay between the individual and social affiliation.'Customs are vital in defining all cultures,' she wrote in an email to Slate. 'I am interested in how ritual objects unite a community, help to shape personal identity and become part of the unique landscape and the language of a place.'(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az