Mummers
Mummers were bands of men and women from the medieval to early modern era who (during public festivities) dressed in fantastic clothes and costumes and serenaded people outside their houses, or joined the party inside.[1] Costumes were varied and might include bears, unicorns, deer (with deer hides and antlers) or rams (with rams' horns).[1] The practice was widespread in Europe, present in England, Ireland and Scotland, with words for it in German and French.[1] The practice dates back to the Romans and has survived in some areas (such as Scotland) and is used in the holiday tradition of Mummer's plays. It has also been revived in the modern Mummer's Parade.[1] The practice may also be related to miming.[2]
History
[edit]Mumming was preceded by the Roman holiday Saturnalia, in which partiers masqueraded.[1] Feasts of Pallas Athena included "visars and painted visages."[1] The holiday was a time of "frequent and luxurious feastings amongst friends, presents were mutually sent, and changes of dress made."[1]
Some of these habits carried over to Christmas, including exchanging clothes and visiting neighbors "in the manner which Germans call mummery," wassailing, and Saint Stephen's Day celebrations.[1] In 1377, citizens of London dressed in mummery to amuse the son of Edward the Black Prince.[1] In England, the tradition led King Henry VIII to declare the wearing of masks to be a misdemeanor.[1] In Scotland, mummers are called guisards and traditionally put on a "rude drama" called Galatian.[1]
Etymology
[edit]The word mummers appears in late Middle English. It derived from the Old French word momeur, itself from momer ("to act in a mime").[2]
Mummery ties to the similar Old French word mommerie.[3]
The word is related to mum, (silence, mum's the word), mum (to act in a dumb show), mumble (to speak indistinctly, silent utterance) and murmer.[1][3]
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Not limited to Christmas in this image, partiers dressed as dogs and monkeys dance with ladies. -
Revelers, some in mummers' garb, serenading in the Netherlands, playing a bumbass. -
1990s, Ireland. "Wren boys" parading on Saint Stephen's Day. -
Mummers performing in Exeter, Devon in 1994 -
2010, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mummer in the 2010 Mummers New Year's Day Parade.
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References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Mummers". Encyclopedia Britannica (1911). Vol. 18.
- ^ a b Angus Stevenson, ed. (2010). "ummer". Oxford English Dictionary (3rd Edition). Oxford University Press.
- ^ a b H. W. Fowler; F. G. Fowler (1919). The concise Oxford dictionary of current English. Oxford; Clarendon Press. p. 533.