![]() ![]() Court records of 1702 show evidence of men and women wearing masks and cross-dressing. Although there are scattered references to mumming activities in the major cities of Boston and New York, the concentration and consistency of the practices in Philadelphia and New Orleans create the most compelling story of mummery in early America.Įlements of the Philadelphia New Year's Day Parade date back to colonial times, though it was not officially organized until 1901. ![]() One such celebration was the Jon Koonering Parade of the southeastern United States. These celebrations, rooted in African traditions, had free exchange between spectators and performers, noise in the form of improvised music, and the firing of guns. There is also evidence of New Year's celebrations in revolutionary America, including parades and disguises on the part of both the American and British troops.Īfrican American holiday parades in early America had elements of mummery as well. These frightening men visited the village children at Christmas–time and rewarded their good behavior with gifts. German immigrants brought with them the tradition of belsnickling, in which adults disguised themselves as half demon, half Santa Claus–type figures. These groups also appointed a type of captain who would dance and sing rhymes such as: Here we stand at your door, With faces smeared with red wash, burnt cork, and flour, and wearing old and comic clothes, they went from house to house visiting and performing. The Swedish settlers' Christmas custom was to travel about visiting friends and having parties. Upon arrival, the leader of the crew, the ceannaire, danced carrying a holly bush, supposedly containing the wren, while the boys sang a traditional Wren Boys song. Stephen's Day was believed to bring good luck. The first group of Wren Boys to visit a house on St. Similarly, in rural Ireland, boys participated in "Hunting the Wren" on St. A predecessor of this play is the "sword" or "Morris" dance, which had stock characters called "Tommy," the fool, and "Bessy," who was dressed as a woman. Leader of the group spoke a prologue and claimed a welcome from the audience. Traditionally, men would travel from house to house, performing and collecting donations and drinks. George was a major influence on early American mumming. In some cultures it was believed that it was lucky for a male to cross the threshold first and that this good fortune would last for the year to come. One popular disguise for men was to dress as women. Disguised as trees, wheat stalks, or animals, they transfigured their faces with masks, makeup, or burnt cork. Mummers would make noise and wear disguises to protect themselves from being recognized by evil spirits who would bring bad luck. The colonial settlers transplanted these traditions to America. Organized parading developed from masked revelers in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century European villages. A rex Saturnalitius led the revels making ludicrous commands. Age and rank were forgotten as slaves were waited on and wore their master's clothing. During Saturnalia, the Romans celebrated the new solar year with merrymaking, music, dance, and prayers for their winter crops. ![]() This popular holiday, held in December, was a feast day for the god of agriculture, Saturn. The origins of mummery can be traced back to the Roman Saturnalia festivals in 400 b.c. ![]() Some of the clearest parallels among these festivals are the use of costumes and masks, traveling from house to house, and a salutary chant made by a leader or captain. Ancient folk rituals in Europe celebrating fertility, birth, and renewal during annual festivals such as Halloween, Christmas, New Year's, and Easter preceded mumming in early America, a practice that matured into the modern-day Philadelphia Mummer's Parade and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. ![]()
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