Mummering flourishes in Newfoundland and Labrador

CBC News

Newfoundland mummers deck themselves in colourful garb and ask their hosts to guess their identities, but not until some fun is had. (CBC) Mummering, a Christmas tradition that was imported to Newfoundland centuries ago by Irish and English migrants, is stronger than ever, with colourful costumes, raucous music and a touch of a roguish past.

Mummers deck themselves in outlandish clothing and masks, then head door to door with a roving party and an invitation for hosts to guess the identities of their guests.Dozens of people took part in a mummers' parade in downtown St. John's last Saturday. (CBC) "Really, it's just the sense of fun and Newfoundlanders are famous for that already," said Sherry McCann, who joined friends at a celebration in Quidi Vidi Village, an outport-like neighbourhood tucked within the boundaries of St. John's.

Traditionally, mummers don't don their costumes until Boxing Day, but the rules have loosened just as the traditions have changed. Last Saturday, dozens of people — many of them in elaborate and humorous outfits — joined a parade that marched through downtown St. John's. Ryan Davis, one of the organizers of the parade, said mummering captures the public's imagination, and has become part of seasonal celebrations.

P.O.V.:

What holiday traditions do you intend to keep alive? Let us know."I think there's something exciting about visiting your friends and being a fool, being some character that you're not normally," he said. "It's a fun social experience and it's a game."
Confusing hosts essential

Mummers often use veils, old clothes and gender-confusing garb to help confound their hosts. While mummering in small outports often means unannounced visits, McCann said mummering in the city usually involves a call ahead of time, even though hosts may still be left in the dark about their visitors' identities until the masks come off.

The tradition dates back to medieval times, and has surfaced in different ways and in different cultures.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, an important spark in the mummering revival was The Mummers Song (also known as Any Mummers Allowed In), recorded in 1983 by the traditional duo Simani. The song was the basis for a subsequent episode of CBC Television's Land & Sea that has aired annually since 1986.
Mummering has not always been so beloved. It was outlawed for a time in the 19th century, when hooligans used the guise of mummering for violence and vandalism.Now, however, mummering is more benign. At shops in downtown St. John's, customers can purchase figurines, artworks and other goods inspired by mummers.
Gary Green, who dresses up as a hobby horse when he and his friends head out to visit friends, said the tradition in Newfoundland and Labrador still has a lot of colour and excitement."It's our own unique style," he said. "It's part of who we are and it absolutely amazes people who come here when they discover what kind of antics we get up to during the Christmas season."


Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2010/12/23/mummering-tradition-.html#ixzz1926Z4VBD