(Newfoundland mummers, 1994)
A 2-part series about Christmas mummering
Links to more information on Mummers:
(Only a partial listing of resources)
Videos: Mummers & Masks A delightful one-hour documentary that examines the ancient Christmas tradition of mummering.
Books:
Christmas Mumming in Newfoundland
by Herbert Halpert (Editor), G.M. Story (Editor)
A Public Nuisance
A history of the Newfoundland Mummers Troupe theatre company
General:
Newfoundland mummers:
Mummering and Performing Arts in Newfoundland
Behind a Winter Door: it's serious business when the mummers come a-knocking
(Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Autumn, 2002 by Gordon Jones)
FOKLORE AND THE CREATION OF NATIONAL IDENTITIES:
(A north american perspective by Gerald L. Pocius)
The Mummers Song (by Simani)
Irish mummers
The Green & Giold Wren, Dingle, Ireland
American Mummers
Quaker City String Band mummers club, Philadelphia
El Toro Venado, Masaya, Nicaragua, 1983
about the tradition of Christmas mummering.
by Chris Brookes
Long before Santa, Bing Crosby and the Mattel Toy Company stole the occasion, the Winter Solstice was celebrated with seasonal rituals like this. Although mummers still appear annually in parts of Newfoundland, England and Ireland, this great-grand-daddy of Halloween masquerade died out in most of North America long ago. The best way to get the lowdown on mummers is to tag along with them, and in this series we do just that -- on both sides of the Atlantic
SE Bight mummer || St. John's mummer
In the series you hear the voices of
Folklorists Phillip Hiscock and Peter Kennedy, drama critic Gordon Jones, anthropologist Lynn Lunde.
Newfoundland mummers John & Rita Chidley, Bev Kane, Fabian O'Keeefe and Mike Rossiter. Irish mummers Brian Gallagher, Jim Ledwith, Wrenboys Muiris Rohan, Patrick Begley. English hobbyhorsers Neil & Jean Miller. American mummers Bill MacIntyre and Palma Lucas.
Special thanks to Peter Blow, Lindum Films and Battery Included for permission to use some sound and interviews recorded for the film Mummers and Masks
Listen to the programs:
Hour One: Mummers at Home Mummers past and present in Newfoundland
Hour Two: Mummers Abroad The tradition in Ireland, England and Philadelphia
Mummers at Paul & Velma Turner's, St.John's (photo P Turner)
Mummer and hobbyhorse, St. John's (photo P Turner
Aughakillymaude mummers, County Fermannagh, Ireland
Wrenboys, Dingle, Ireland