How did the mummers originate?

The Mummers derive their name from the Mummers’ plays performed in Philadelphia in the 18th century as part of a wide variety of working class street celebrations around Christmas. The Mummers continued their traditions of comic verse in exchange for cakes and ale.

Who were the original mummers?

Some of the earliest mummers date back to early Egypt, pagan Rome and Greece, England, Germany, and France. Historically, Mummery has influenced customs and perpetuated many interesting traditions. Every nation had its festivals at one time or another, each marked by parades and displays of fanciful costumes.

Why was Mummering banned in the 1800s?

Mummering’s past is entangled with drunkenness and violence that happened during the Christmas season. It came to a head in 1860 when Isaac Mercer was murdered, which led to a ban on mummering.

What are medieval mummers?

A medieval mummer was a medieval entertainer who was an amateur actor. He performed at different plays in the villages that were held at the harvest time or on some religious occasion such as Christmas.

Is Mummering illegal?

Mummering in Newfoundland is all about reversals—turning the normal world topsy-turvy. Men might dress as women and women as men. For decades, up until the 1990s, mummering was illegal in Newfoundland. The ban didn’t kill the tradition, though.

What does Samhain mean in Gaelic?

In modern times, Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “SAH-win”) is usually celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.” Celebrants believe that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world break down during Samhain, allowing more interaction …

What are English mummers?

Mumming play, also called mummers’ play, traditional dramatic entertainment, still performed in a few villages in England and Northern Ireland, in which a champion is killed in a fight and is then brought to life by a doctor.

What is a Mummer Ireland?

Mumming is a beautiful, old Irish Christmas time, house visiting tradition involving a group of friends or family who dress in disguise and visit homes of their neighbours and community during the twelve days of Christmas. They may poke and prod the mummers or ask them questions.

Where did the name the Mummers come from?

The name — taken from the mummers plays that have been a tradition in England since the 13th century — etymologically traces back to the Momus of ancient Greece, a character personifying mockery and satire who appeared in Aesop’s Fables. Today’s celebration does justice to its namesake.

Where did the tradition of mumming come from?

The origins of mummering are a little hazy and the tradition is scattered around the globe: the Brits refer to it as “ mumming ” and the Philadelphia Mummers Parade on New Years’ Day is an extravaganza of elaborate pageantry in the style of Carnival or Mardi Gras.

Where does mummering take place in the UK?

Mummering is a Christmas-time house-visiting tradition practised in Newfoundland, Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom.

When did the Mummers first come to Newfoundland?

History. Although it is unclear precisely when this tradition was brought to Newfoundland by the English and Irish, the earliest record dates back to 1819. The tradition varied, and continues to vary, from community to community. Some formal aspects of the tradition, such as the mummers play, have largely died out,…