Where did the tradition of mummering come from?

An old Christmas custom from England and Ireland, mummering in a version of its modern form can be traced back in Newfoundland into the 19th century. Although it is unclear precisely when this tradition was brought to Newfoundland by the English and Irish, the earliest record dates back to 1819.

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 is the meaning of mummering?

1 : a performer in a pantomime broadly : actor. 2 : one who goes merrymaking in disguise during festivals.

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.

Why are Mummers called Mummers?

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.

What do Mummers say?

“Oh! Dem Golden Slippers” is the traditional anthem of the Mummers. Written by James Bland, an African American, which was introduced into the parade in 1905 by minstrel Charles Dumont. You can expect to hear it by multiple times throughout the parade, as almost every String Band will bust it at at some point.

Are Mummers all men?

“It’s any man, woman or child involved in the fantasy of song, dance and costume splendor on each January 1st in the annual Philadelphia New Year’s Day parade,” said Martz. The mummers devote an entire year to crafting their costumes, writing their skits, rehearsing their performances.

Does the Mummers Parade still exist?

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Jim Kenney has canceled the parade for just the third time since the Broad Street spectacle became a city-sanctioned event.

Why are they called Mummers?

What are masked mummers?

Also known in Newfoundland as jennying or jannying, this folk tradition involves people dressing up in flamboyant clothes, masking their faces and distorting their voices in order to conceal their identities.

Are there female Mummers?

THE ROLE of women in the Mummers Parade is as fundamental as the song “Alabama Jubilee,” but much more understated. Women have been designing costumes and gluing feathers and sequins for as long as Philadelphians have marched on Broad Street.

Where does the tradition of mumming take place?

Mummering. For traditional folk plays in Britain, see Mummers’ play. Mummering, or mumming, is a Christmas -time house-visiting tradition practised in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom . Also known as mumming or janneying, it typically involves a group of friends or family who dress in disguise

What’s the tradition of the Mummers in Newfoundland?

Though this odd holiday tradition is mostly folksy, mummering has had its dark moments. Horse skulls and sometimes murder are part of its history. Mummering is the folksy, but odd, Newfoundland Christmas-time tradition of visiting neighbors at home in strange disguises.

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.

What do the Mummers do at Christmas time?

These Mummers then go from house to house playing music, dancing, telling jokes, performing skits, and generally acting foolish. The residents of the homes being visited reward their entertainers with food and drink.