What is a Mummer? History, definition and more of the traditional Philadelphia parade (2023)

FAQs

What is the history of the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia? ›

The Philadelphia Mummers Parade is the oldest continuous folk parade in the United States. The first formal, city-sponsored parade dates to 1901. But Mummery in Philadelphia began long before that. Mummers can be found throughout recorded history in ancient Egypt, in Greece, in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

Upon entering a home, the hosts try to guess the identities of the mummers hidden behind some kind of mask. Once identified, the mummers remove their mask. The hosts then usually offer them drink and food. In many homes, a host would not offer a drink until they guess the mummer's identity.

mum·​mer ˈmə-mər. Synonyms of mummer. : a performer in a pantomime. broadly : actor. : one who goes merrymaking in disguise during festivals.

Mummers are Philadelphians of all ages who belong to more than 40 organized clubs that make up the parade participants. The clubs, split into five categories — Comics, Wench Brigades, Fancies, String Bands and the Fancy Brigades — function mainly to stage their playful performances on New Year's Day.

Mummers have their roots in the past, tracing as far back as ancient Egypt. They're best documented during the medieval period, where the mummers' play was a popular pastime for the poor. There's a wide variety of mummer plays, but they're characterized by big masks and pantomime traditions.

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.

It started in the late 17th century as an old tradition of visiting friends in the days after Christmas, extending all the way to New Year's, and celebrating by dressing up as though it were a masquerade party.

The first official Mummers Parade was held on New Year's Day in 1901, on Broad Street, as it still is today. "Costuming is the most important part of the Mummers Parade," Grzybowski said. "Some of these costumes are made in Philadelphia by different designers, different set designers."

Mummers were originally bands of masked persons who during winter festivals in Europe paraded the streets and entered houses to dance or play dice in silence. “Momerie” was a popular amusement between the 13th and 16th century.

What are the different types of mummers? ›

Different Divisions of Mummers

The eccentric Mummers are grouped into five divisions: the comic division, fancy brigades, fancy division, string bands, and the wench brigade division. Each with their own flair and performing specialties, here's what makes each division unique.

John's, Newfoundland, the streets are filled with misshapen, masked figures. They are wrapped in quilts and oversized jackets, or bright boots and distinctive dresses, with undergarments worn on the outside.

Mummering originated in England and Ireland, and the earliest record of it in Newfoundland dates to 1819, according to the Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage project. During Christmas season, people would disguise their identities using a mishmash of household items and travel door to door to neighbors' homes.

John H. Baizley's Inquirer obituary describes him as the “Mummers Parade originator” and “father of Philadelphia's unique New Year's festival.” Who knows what New Year's Day celebrations in Philadelphia would look like had it not been for the childhood antics of a city councilman in the 1800s.

The parade travels south down Broad St. to Washington Ave., where it ends by 6 p.m. The Order of March begins with the Golden Sunrise Fancy Division at about 9 a.m., and moves on to the Wench, Comic, String Band, and Fancy Bridge Divisions throughout the morning and afternoon.

The luxurious costumes not only look lavish, they are also expensive. For a 65-person troop, the total cost can be around $100,000, with the most expensive costumes costing around $10,000 a pop. It's more than a parade. It's a competition.

In the 1970s most mummers clubs began admitting women as performers for the first time.

Once disguised, groups go a-knockin' on doors of neighbors and friends and ask the question: “Any mummers allowed?” If so, the game continues until the host guesses your identity, at which point costumes come off, and food and drink—usually Christmas cake and homemade blueberry wine— and music is shared.

Mumming's the word. The word mummer, believed to be Germanic in origin, is used to refer to a masked actor in the countries where this tradition has prospered, including Ireland, England, Scotland, and Canada.

OTHER WORDS FOR murmur

1 grumble, susurration, mumble, complaint, mutter.

What is a Mummer band? ›

Simply, the Philadelphia Mummers are costumed entertainers welcoming in the New Year. And Mummery is as ancient as man's dream of getting outside of customary life and as old as his imagination. The parade participants take their name from Momus, the Greek god of ridicule.

In 1901, Philadelphia's city government decided to sponsor the popular parade, and 42 fraternal organizations received permits to stage a parade in which prizes were awarded for costumes, music, and comic antics. The Mummers' Parade continues to be a popular Philadelphia tradition.

The 2023 Mummers Parade begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday, January 1 and typically ends by the early evening. Mummers will begin at 15th and Market Streets, near Dilworth Park and City Hall, before moving around to South Broad Street and down to Washington Avenue.

The Mummers Fancy Brigade Association announced the results of its big competition at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Sunday. This year, the South Philly Vikings took top honors for their performance of Journey To The Hidden Village. They were led by Louis Castelli, who took the top captain crown.

History. 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.

Mummers' plays are folk plays performed by troupes of amateur actors, traditionally all male, known as mummers or guisers (also by local names such as rhymers, pace-eggers, soulers, tipteerers, wrenboys, and galoshins).

Stephen on Dec. 26 to the Old Twelfth Day on Jan. 6. In the best-known variation of the tradition, people hide their identities by disguising their faces and bodies and modify their speech and behaviour while visiting neighbours' homes.

The earliest record of mummering in Canada is in 1819. It now takes place each year around Christmas. 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.

This new tradition was called mumming, and mummers (the costumed people putting on the performances) would go door to door, singing, dancing, and enacting plays in exchange for food and drink. It is important to note that Samhain (and Halloween, later on) wasn't the only holiday that had mummers hitting the streets.

It started in the late 17th century as an old tradition of visiting friends in the days after Christmas, extending all the way to New Year's, and celebrating by dressing up as though it were a masquerade party.

Where did Mummer plays originate? ›

It is not known how old the mumming play is. Although contemporary references to it do not begin to appear until the late 18th century, the basic narrative framework is the story of St. George and the Seven Champions of Christendom, which was first popularized in England toward the end of the 16th century.

The Parade is free to attend, but tickets for bleacher seating at the City Hall Performance Zone are available to purchase through the Independence Visitor Center Corp. For 120 years, Philadelphia has rang in the new year with a festive celebration, The Mummers Parade.

The Revolving Door: In 1888, Theophilus van Kannel was granted a patent for the first revolving door, an improvement on an existing door intended to cut down on drafts.

The Philadelphia Mummers Parade is believed to be one of the oldest folk festivals in America, and a tradition that has been going on since the time of ancient Egyptians. However, the word Mummer can be traced back to ancient Greece. It is derived from Momus, the personification of satire and mockery.

The eccentric Mummers are grouped into five divisions: the comic division, fancy brigades, fancy division, string bands, and the wench brigade division. Each with their own flair and performing specialties, here's what makes each division unique.

In 1901, Philadelphia's city government decided to sponsor the popular parade, and 42 fraternal organizations received permits to stage a parade in which prizes were awarded for costumes, music, and comic antics. The Mummers' Parade continues to be a popular Philadelphia tradition.

The instrumentation is exclusively saxophones, banjos, accordions, violins, bass violins, and percussion instruments. Mummers String Bands are known, not only for the unique sound, but also for their elaborate costumes.

PERHAPS the most incongruous hit in recent memory is ''The Mummers' Dance,'' a song that features exotic instruments like the oud and the hurdy-gurdy and was inspired by an ancient group of tree worshipers.

The 2023 Mummers Parade begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday, January 1 and typically ends by the early evening. Mummers will begin at 15th and Market Streets, near Dilworth Park and City Hall, before moving around to South Broad Street and down to Washington Avenue.

The long-time event also includes looks by a long-time costume maker. What is a Mummer? James May of James May Costume Company has been making Mummers costumes for more than five decades.

What was Philadelphia originally called? ›

After making a friendship treaty with a Lenape chief named Tammany, in what is now Philadelphia's Fishtown (and was called Shackamaxon at the time), Penn named the city “Philadelphia,” which means “brotherly love” in Greek.

Ice cream is complicated. We love it. We didn't invent it in America, but we eat it more than any other nation on earth. We perfected it right here in Philadelphia, and made it available to the masses.