Mummers often carried “splits” or large sticks and fought with other groups of mummers or attacked innocent people. Bud Davidge and Sim Savoury originally pressed 2,000 copies of the single, which they distributed themselves. Mummering is mainstream, with tourist shops full of mummer figurines, marketed as a quirky folk tradition that’s unique to Newfoundland. Some formal aspects of the tradition, such as the mummers play, have largely died out, with the informal house-visiting remaining the predominant form. One mummer in Logy Bay described her dance as a spontaneous, high-energy aerobic-style performance, complete with high kicks, extreme stretching, and back bends. an actor, especially a … Translate mummer into Spanish noun 1 An actor in a traditional masked mime, especially of a type associated with Christmas and popular in England in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Some state that the tradition was brought to Newfoundland by Irish immigrants from County Wexford. 59 Main Street, Pasadena. In 2009, the Heritage Foundation Of Newfoundland and Labrador established the annual Mummers Festival. The classic Newfoundland Christmas tune, usually called “The Mummers Song,” was released in 1983 by Simani, a two-man band from Fortune Bay. Sarah Ferguson and her dog Frank stand in traditional mummer dress in St. John's, Newfoundland. And get your gatch on at the Mummers parade! The Newfoundland Holiday Tradition Where Disguised Visitors Drink, Dance, and Swing Your Granny", "Mummering, Violence and the Law in Nineteenth-Century Newfoundland", "Celebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way: with drunken mayhem", "The dark side of mummering: What you may not know about a beloved tradition", "Mummers on trial: Mumming, Violence and the Law in Conception Bay and St. John's, Newfoundland, 1831-1863", "11 Canadian winter festivals to check out across the country", "Mummers take ugly sticks and hobby horses to the streets of St. John's for annual parade", "Mummers Parade keeps Newfoundland Christmas tradition alive: organizer", "Hundreds take part in annual Mummers Parade in St. John's", "Doilies, beer cases and Nan's bras disguise mummers at St. John's parade", Annual Mummers Festival, St. John's, Newfoundland, Christmas Traditions on the Memorial University Intangible Cultural Heritage website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mummering&oldid=996434494, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 December 2020, at 16:14. There are many ways for you to find your inner mummer. The earliest record of mummering in Canada is in 1819. "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. For the last 120 years In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania every New You make it what you want it to be. About 12 communities in Newfoundland now have some kind of Mummer walk, said Ryan Davis, director of the St. John's festival. Mummering is a traditional Christmas amusement that involves participants—known as mummers—dressing up in wild costumes, donning masks or wearing veils over their faces, and distorting their voices, all in an attempt to avoid being recognized. giftsofjoy@nl.rogers.com. See more ideas about newfoundland, mummers parade, newfoundland and labrador. The typical Newfoundland idea of a mummer is a well-padded man with a bra on. In particular, it refers to a masked or costumed merrymaker, especially at a festival. The practice made its way to Europe in the Middle Ages and was eventually brought to North America by European settlers. It may have its roots in Europe, but it’s pure Newfoundland now. By Jo-Ann "Jo D NL” Duke Now you might be asking yourself, what in God's name is a Mummer? Mummering (or "mumming" as it is sometimes called) seems to have existed in some form or another since the beginning of recorded history. With this lighthearted holiday piece Simani revived a holiday tradition that had almost disappeared completely. [3] Some state that the tradition was brought to Newfoundland by Irish immigrants from County Wexford. John's. This is the predictable question almost every visiting tourist will ask. If you like a bit of Shakespeare, the Shakespeare by the Sea productions in St. John’s and Perchance Theatre’s season in Cupids will be right up your alley. 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. Around 7,500 years ago they buried a child in what is the oldest known funeral mound in … This silly song, written in true Newfoundland dialect, tells about a visit of the mummers who come in and dance. In st. John's, and some of the larger towns and centers throughout the province however, it evolved into something a little more politically charged. They're not permitted to play any brass instruments and only use saxophones, banjos, accordions, … Someone who gets dressed up during the Christmas holidays and goes from house to house bumming drinks. To make this a challenge for the hosts, the mummers may stuff their costumes, cross-dress, or speak while inhaling (ingressive speech). Folklorist Gerald Pocius unpacks the cultural significance of the song’s instant popularity in “ The Mummers Song in Newfoundland: Intellectuals, Revivalists and Cultural Nativism ”. But years ago even this form of mummering was often violent and unpleasant. Mummering is a centuries old Christmas visiting tradition that’s become unique to this island. The residents of the homes being visited reward their entertainers with food and drink. On June 25, 1861 the "Act to make further provisions for the prevention of nuisances" was introduced. Folk music festivals take a traditional kitchen party to a bigger stage. See more ideas about newfoundland, newfoundland and labrador, christmas crafts. Mummering, or mumming, is a Christmas-time house-visiting tradition practised in Newfoundland, Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom. MUMmer Mummer is a bioinformatics software for sequence alignment. Christmas Mummering Traditions in Newfoundland and Labrador, says the centuries-old tradition of making disguised house visits during the 12 days of Christmas typically begins on Boxing Day. Males dressed as women might dance with other Eastern USA has its own version. Newfoundland runs an annual Mummer Festival from the end of November to mid-December full of activities for the whole family. If they guess correctly, you reveal yourself. Our 2019 Mummers Parade (including the Rig Up, and Scuff 'n' Scuff) is set for December 14. For a time, the known becomes the unknown, with faces carefully disguised by baskets, masks or drapes of cloth, shirts and trousers stuffed to ridiculous The tradition varied, and continues to vary, from community to community. Newfoundland's first-ever Mummers Festival was born in 2009 and is now going into its eighth year. How to use mummer in a sentence. Jan 4, 2014 - Explore Lori-Ann Ash's board "Newfoundland - mummering" on Pinterest. ST. JOHN'S, NL - (12/20/09) A mummer disguised with a piece of a tablecloth played traditional Newfoundland folk songs on the accordion as the procession moved through the snow lined streets of downtown St. John's. Mummer definition is - a performer in a pantomime; broadly : actor. NEWFOUNDLAND - LABRADOR: The Mummers Festival, St. John's - By around 8,000 years ago the culture of those first groups had developed into what is now called the Maritime Archaic Indians. Though the song focuses solely on the house visit aspect of Mummering the interest that it generated in the practice as a whole has brought all aspects of the tradition back into the popular culture of Newfoundland, all be it with some major changes. Newfoundland Christmas tradition inspired this hit Simani song. See more ideas about newfoundland, newfoundland and labrador, mummers parade. Then, in the 1980's, Mummering experienced a massive resurgence, thanks in a large part to a local musical duo, Simani, and their 1982 Christmas recording "The Mummers Song". How to use mummer in a sentence. Newfoundland Mummer's that come around dressed in costumes during the Christmas holiday season for a drink to neighbor's houses. Every New Year’s Day for the past decade, Carl Sanchez has been strumming his banjo in the 113-year-old Mummer’s Parade… It’s just about time for Philadelphia’s one-of-a-kind celebration: the 111th Mummers Parade, our city’s [9][10][11][12][13] The success of the festival has influenced, in part, another revitalization and increase of interest in the tradition in the province. Tips For Parade Mummers. In the small coastal communities that exist all around the Island of Newfoundland, the practice was a relatively innocent and harmless amusement. The Mummer’s Song may be viewed on You Tube. Mummers Parade keeps Newfoundland Christmas tradition alive: organizer PHOTOS: A 'Mummers' Run' around Quidi Vidi Lake Did this story inform or enhance your perspective on this subject? Mummering did, however, continue in Newfoundland's many outport communities, at least until the mid twentieth century, when it almost died out completely. Mummering is another unique Newfoundland experience. What she came up with was an extensive summary of the research covering many aspects of the tradition such as mummers’ costumes, mummers’ behaviour, and the types of mummering groups. All of which lead up to the main event, the Mummers Parade. Newfoundland A0L 1K0 See more ideas about newfoundland, painting, quilts. For traditional folk plays in Britain, see, Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, "Are Mummers Allowed in? Mummers also have to disguise their faces, and they worked with what was … Mummers who play music while strutting down Broad St. Photo by This is an I was walking down the street on a beautiful December afternoon in St. John’s, Newfoundland and who passes me, but someone in red long johns and Sorel boots with a big hobby horse head obscuring his own, accompanied by someone else with a lace doily covering their face. Mummering is based on ancient traditions of disguising and visiting during the Christmas season, while traditional mummers’ plays and characters are about 200 years old, traveling from Britain to Newfoundland. What's a Mummer? “Be careful the The mummers parade in downtown St. John's, NL, Mummering today is as every bit a part of a traditional Newfoundland Christmas as turkey dinner. The origins of the word aren't clear — some etymologists attribute it to an old English word mumm (meaning "silent"), while others say it derives from the old German word mummer (meaning "disguised person"). Nov 3, 2015 - Explore Melissa Hiscock's board "Mummers", followed by 133 people on Pinterest. When early English and Irish settlers came to Newfoundland and Labrador, they brought with them the tradition of “Mummering”, also known as “Janneying”. In St. John’s, Newfoundland‘s capital city, the Mummer’s Parade was a yearly event. Even though the house to house visit still involves some alcohol consumption, Mummuering is no longer the drunken free-for-all that had nearly eradicated it in Newfoundland more than 150 years ago. Feb 5, 2020 - Explore Plenty of Lesley's board "mummers", followed by 1942 people on Pinterest. Greeting Card Messages Birthday noun a person who wears a mask or fantastic costume while merrymaking or taking part in a pantomime, especially at Christmas and other festive seasons. Between Christmas and New Year, you disguise yourself and go door to door, entreating your neighbours to guess who who are. Old Christmas Day Any individual participating in this tradition was commonly called a “mummer” or a “janney”. If the mummers are welcomed into a house, they often do a variety of informal performances that may include dance, music, jokes, or recitations. The word mummer is Old French from momer to ‘act in a mime’. Also known as mumming or janneying, it typically involves a group of friends or family who dress in disguise and visit homes within their community or neighbouring communities during the twelve days of Christmas. Mummering is the folksy, but odd, Newfoundland Christmas-time tradition of visiting neighbors at home in strange disguises. That first round of ‘45s sold out completely before the song even got on the air, and since then it has basically become the quintessential Newfoundland Christmas carol. And anyone can join in! Well, let me tell you all about mummering, especially in Newfoundland and Labrador. The history of the Mummers Festival – an annual parade of people dressed as mummers. Once the mummers have been identified, they remove their disguises, spend some social time with the hosts, and then travel as a group to the next home.[1][2]. Just under thirty years ago, in 1982, Bud Davidge and Sim Savoury released “The Mummer’s Song“. Tags Accordion , Christmas Cake , Christmas Tradition , Dancing , Mummering , Mumming , Newfoundland , Pagan Custom , Simini , The Mummers Song , The Twelve Days Of Christmas A mummer, by definition, is “a masked or costumed merrymaker, especially at a festival.” 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. Mummer A member of a travelling troupe of actors originally from the British Isles that performed seasonal folk plays. Mummering is the folksy, but odd, Newfoundland Christmas-time tradition of visiting neighbors at home in strange disguises. Mummers en route to the parade, St. John's, NL. 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. You can still find mumming traditions happening in Newfoundland, Canada; Cornwall, England; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mummers with a Twist. Faces generally hidden with some kind of lace or curtain of some kind,” explained Dale Jarvis, Intangible Cultural Heritage Development Officer and author of Any Mummers ’Lowed In? Between Boxing Day and Old Christmas Day you and your friends get dressed up in disguises and costumes and go knocking on doors in your neighbourhood. It is carried in mummers parades as it was for hundreds of years a favorite gift for kids at Christmas. [4] The tradition varied, and continues to vary, from community to community. 1(709) 686-5194. [6] The Bill made it illegal to wear a disguise in public without permission of the local magistrate. How did they get this name? In Newfoundland, mummering has usually meant, in its most basic form, wearing a costume that disguises your identity and going from house to house, visiting your neighbors. Mummers are people dressed up in random articles of clothing and objects found around the house. As part of this revival, one particular form of mummering - the informal house-visit described above - has come to represent the custom in Newfoundland as a whole, while other forms that were equally prominent in the island’s cultural history have received comparatively little attention."[8]. Here in Newfoundland and Labrador we’ve got a few things that make it a pretty unique celebration. Should you be lucky enough to find yourself in Newfoundland some Christmas season be sure to check out the Mummers festival, and catch the Mummers parade. We need YOU in your most creative mummers gear! Here are a few more of the blocks I've been working on for My Newfoundland Quilt. These are Newfoundland’s mummers, the latest iteration of a centuries-old tradition that has its roots in Europe but is entirely unique to this Canadian island. Perhaps you may even be fortunate enough to be invited along on a traditional home visit for a Scuff and a Scoff (for translation see article, "Newfoundland English", the Colorful Collection of Dialects Known as "Newfinese".). Known as a hobbyhorse it consisted of a crafted horses head tied to a stick which the child would pretend to ride. Mumming was used as a means of entertaining at feasts and functions, particular mention is made of one feast where 150 torch bearers lead the same number of mummers in, who would do acrobatics in a variety of costumes, including animal costumes. See more. Original 1987 uncut TV broadcast. Though it is not known exactly when Mummering began on the Island, the earliest written record of the practice dates back to 1819. As in ancient Rome, mummering in Newfoundland turns reality topsy-turvy. They may poke and prod the mummers or ask them questions. His playing whips the guests into a devil-possessed dancing frenzy designed to make Aunt Corinne’s house fall off the cliff so that she can join her husband in the land of the dead. Christmas Mummer Row Houses Bakeapples by littleangelsboutique (Home & Living, Home Décor, Ornaments & Accents, Ornaments, hand stamped, christmas, christmas ornament, newfoundland mummers, any mummers loud in, bakeapples, row houses, nl row house, newfie, newfoundland flag, polymer clay, christmas gift, personalized gift) In Newfoundland, these settlers consisted primarily of English and Irish immigrants. They occasionally perform in the streets, although their more usual style is … Mummer definition, a person who wears a mask or fantastic costume while merrymaking or taking part in a pantomime, especially at Christmas and other festive seasons. This parade was not like our Santa Claus parades of today; it was very loud and rowdy, even to the point where people got hurt. Mummering, or mumming, is a Christmas-time house-visiting tradition practised in Newfoundland, Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom. There are several theories about where the word came from: An old French word, momer, meaning "to mask oneself." Isolation often breeds a quirkiness you don’t see in connected communities, and let’s face it, for a long time Newfoundland was pretty isolated, from the … References to the practice can be found in the writings of ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. Mummering, in one form or another, has been a Christmas tradition in Newfoundland since the Nineteenth Century, when it was brought to the Island by English and Irish settlers. Mummering in St. John's, Newfoundland, circa 1860. It is based on the suffix tree data structure and is one of the fastest and most effective systems available for this task, allowing it to be applied to very long sequences. In some communities, if folks can’t identify the mummers, they have to join the group. A Newfoundland Tradition. ‘Carol singing, Morris-men, mummers, community plays are just a few of the traditions under threat from what is seen as an arbitrary piece of legislation.’ ‘And in come the mummers, faces muffled and painted, outlandishly costumed in multicolored skirts, frock coats, long-johns, turned jackets, stuffed pants.’ "Our version of Mummery goes back to the pre-1800s here," Davis said. So… 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 also called ‘Jannies’, have been a tradition in Newfoundland since colonists from England brought the custom at the beginning of the seventeenth century. Feb 11, 2018 - Explore Luetta Lomond's board "Mummers" on Pinterest. Most bizarre masked stick-up? It now takes place each year around Christmas. The rest of the tune is a narrative describing a visit by mummers. Folklorist Dr. Joy Fraser has noted that, "in common with many other folk revivals, the resurgence of Christmas mummering in Newfoundland is largely based on a selective and idealised conceptualisation of the custom. The song opens with an elderly lady reflecting nostalgically on Christmases past, and how much she misses Mummers, when there's a knock on her door. In 1984, Margaret Roberston wrote a thesis called The Newfoundland Mummers’ Christmas House-Visit 2, based primarily on the responses to the questionnaire. Answer: The horses head on a stick dates back to the 1400's and was a traditional child's toy for centuries. Stephen has been exploring the history, legends, and folklore of his home province of Newfoundland Labrador for the better part of 40 years. Mummering in rural communities continued despite the passage of the Bill, although the practice did die out in larger towns and cities. Mummer comes from the old French ‘momer’ which means to wear a mask; pantomime. Question: What is the reason for the horses head on sticks that some people carry for Newfoundland Christmas traditions? It’s a wonderful spectacle, full of young, old, locals and people who haven’t the faintest what a mummer is. Christmas is a wonderful time right across Canada, but Christmas in Newfoundland is something extra special. The hosts must guess the mummers' identities before offering them food or drink. Recent Examples on the Web Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun's son and the mummer's dragon. Today it is a much more family oriented activity. In these more populated areas tensions, caused by political and religious differences, would be building all year. By the 1860s, mummering had been made illegal, a ban which stayed in place for well over a century, but which failed to stamp out a beloved, and complicated, Christmas tradition.
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