Who was the central character in English mumming plays?
Who was the central character in English mumming plays?
The principal characters, presented in a wide variety of manners, are a hero, most commonly Saint George, King George, or Prince George (but Robin Hood in the Cotswolds and Galoshin in Scotland), and his chief opponent (known as the Turkish Knight in southern England, but named Slasher elsewhere), and a quack Doctor …
What is an English mummer?
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 is the purpose of the mummers?
“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. The mummers devote an entire year to crafting their costumes, writing their skits, rehearsing their performances.
What is mumming in Halloween?
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.
Who invented Mummering?
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.
Why are Mummers called Mummers?
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. The Mummers continued their traditions of comic verse in exchange for cakes and ale.
What are medieval mummers?
A medieval mummer was a medieval entertainer who was an amateur actor. He performed at different plays in the villages that were held at the harvest time or on some religious occasion such as Christmas.
What are Irish Mummers?
Mumming is a beautiful, old Irish Christmas time, house visiting tradition involving a group of friends or family who dress in disguise and visit homes of their neighbours and community during the twelve days of Christmas. They may poke and prod the mummers or ask them questions.
Why are they called Mummers?
Why do kids say trick or treat?
The phrase is a subtle suggestion that if a treat (like candy) is given, then the child will not perform a “trick” (mischief) on the owner of the house. This popular Halloween custom has its origins in the ancient practices of “souling” and “guising.”
What does a Mummer say?
“Oh! Dem Golden Slippers” is the traditional anthem of the Mummers. Written by James Bland, an African American, which was introduced into the parade in 1905 by minstrel Charles Dumont. You can expect to hear it by multiple times throughout the parade, as almost every String Band will bust it at at some point.
Where do people mummer?
Newfoundland
Every December in St. John’s, Newfoundland, people parade the streets wearing creepy masks, fake horse heads and their underwear on the outside. The spectacle is all part of the Mummers Festival, which celebrates a once-banned, centuries-old tradition in the province called mummering.
What is a mumming play?
Mumming play, also called mummers’ play, traditional dramatic entertainment, still performed in a few villages in Englandand Northern Ireland, in which a champion is killed in a fight and is then brought to life by a doctor.
Who are the main characters in a mummers play in Ireland?
The main characters are usually the Captain, Beelzebub, Saint Patrick, Prince George, Oliver Cromwell, The Doctor and Miss Funny. The tradition of the mummers’ play is still present in areas of Ireland including County Fermanagh, County Tyrone, County Wexford, and the Fingal area of County Dublin.
What are mums and guisers plays?
Mummers’ and guisers’ plays were formerly performed throughout much of English-speaking Great Britain and Ireland, spreading to other English-speaking parts of the world including Newfoundland and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
What is a mummer?
The mummers are similar but distinct from the other traditions such as wrenboys. The main characters are usually the Captain, Beelzebub, Saint Patrick, Prince George, Oliver Cromwell, The Doctor and Miss Funny.