Newfoundland is known for letting strangers through their doors—especially during the holidays. At Christmas it’s typical to have strangers show up on your front step looking for a party, garbed head to toe in costumes that do not reveal their faces. Pieces of cloth and pillow cases are grabbed from around the house and adorned on top of pillows and padding to change a person’s shape. Their hosts then have to figure out who is visiting them. Once a person’s identity is revealed, they can remove their masks. Hosts then have to feed them and top up their drinks.
Folks and all, may I present to you the history of Mummers.
Mummering can be found across the island in a variety of ways and has been practiced for over 300 years. Once mummers have passed your threshold, a party is hosted, and after a few swallies and jigs, the mummers are off to their next location. The host is welcome to dress up and join them.
Also known as mumming or janneying, mummering typically takes place during the twelve days of Christmas. A more modern tradition is the Mummer festival featuring a parade where many mummers come adorned in big waiter boots, lace curtains and quilts (and don’t forget the oversized bras) and many more multicoloured fabrics to walk the streets of St. John’s and celebrate this tradition with everyone in the capital city.
The tradition of mummering in Newfoundland comes from England and Ireland with the earliest recorded event in Newfoundland taking place in 1819. They say the tradition originally comes from ancient Rome’s Saturn Nailia festival on a day where slaves and masters switched places.
In 1861 Mummering took a hiatus after a Bay Roberts man was killed by a group of masked mummers during the holiday season. An act to make further provisions for the prevention of Nuisances was established and mummering was technically considered illegal without a permit. Rural Newfoundland ignored the laws and continued to come barking at their neighbours doors with masks and blankets over their faces.
Once Simani’s “Any Mummers Allowed In?” became popular in the 1980s mummering was back in action and being recognized as a part of Newfoundland’s heritage.
Nowadays in small communities some folks use mummering as a means to check in on the more vulnerable and surprise them with some holiday cheer.
It’s now considered a formal tradition in the province, which isn’t surprising considering it’s a spontaneous party that comes from someone knocking on your door, a Newfoundlander’s favourite kind of get together.
Feature image by Sarah Wright, Mummer Monarch by Myles Burry
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