Another New Year's Day with the Mummers

Every New Year’s Day, thousands of Philadelphians, mostly men, don elaborate costumes of sequins, spangles, and feathers. They carry banjos, saxophones, and double-basses to march in one of the most unusual events in the world - Philadelphia’s Mummers Parade.

The quirky parade was officially organized in 1901, but unofficial cultural celebrations were held as far back as the late 17^th century. The Mummers are rooted in the city’s ethnic neighborhoods, particularly South Philadelphia. Mummer members are mostly working class:
longshoremen, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, in their everyday lives. But once a year, these blue-collar workers become stars - dancing, strutting, and creating music that lifts an entire city’s spirit.

In today’s Mummer tradition, associations or “clubs” compete in one of four categories of Mummery: the Comics, the Fancies, the Fancy Brigades, and the String Bands. The experience is often a family affair, with many Mummers first marching on Broad Street as children. The parade is built around music and you can expect to hear the Mummers’ signature tunes – the vaudeville-esque “Oh Dem Golden Slippers” and “I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover,” – over and over throughout the day.

The primary mode of Mummer locomotion down the Broad Street, the parade route, is the Mummer “strut.” The strut is a joyful dance where one bounces along in a hop-step, slightly bowed, with arms outstretched (often holding a decorative umbrella!) Picture a man dolled up in sequined cape and pants, who’s thrown his back out and can’t quite stand up straight, bouncing down the street while waving his arms. Hmmm . . this may be one instance where video is worth a thousand of my words.

The marathon parade, which in the past would last 10 or 11 hours, kicks off with the Comics division. The Comics clubs spoof current events and newsmakers during their strut down Broad Street. Also known as the “clowns,” these clubs march to recorded music and perform quick skits to entertain the crowd. Historically women were not part of Mummery, so men would dress in drag to play female roles. Today even though women have joined the ranks, the custom of men dressing as comic “wenches” is still part of the Comic tradition. The Comic strut starts early in the morning, with the result that many clowns are still . . .shall we say. . . feeling the effects of their New Year’s Eve celebration, making for a raucous and enthusiastic performance for the spectators.

The Fancy clubs have elaborate costumes and floats and provide the most dazzling displays to watch. The Fancy Brigades produce 4 or 5 minute Broadway-worthy musical numbers, complete with costumes, props and back drops. They strut only part of the way down Broad Street before heading indoors to the convention center to present two performances for ticket-holders.

Finally, the String Bands arrive for the highlight of the parade. String Bands strut to live music played by their members, all amateurs, on banjos, saxophones, accordions, double-basses, and percussion, combining to create the signature String Band sound. Members wear costumes bedecked with sequins and feathers, often with backpieces that are 6 or more feet in diameter. The heavy costumes can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars apiece. Ornate Captains’ costumes can weigh up to 100 pounds. They also must be seen to be believed, as it is near impossible for written description to convey the spectacle of so many men outfitted in feathers, make-up and swirling capes, performing show tunes with military precision.

The sights and sounds of the Mummers are not limited to January 1^st. To raise money for costumes, most clubs play parades and events all year long and participate in SummerMummer concerts at the Mummers Museum. At Philadelphia weddings, bar mitzvahs and other festivities, it is not unusual for the Mummers strut to break out mid-celebration. I must admit that we had the band at our wedding reception play “Oh Dem Golden Slippers” during the dancing, to simultaneously thrill my Philadelphia relatives and baffle my husband’s out of town family.

So while most of the world is nursing a hangover, eating black-eyed peas, or watching the bowl games on New Years Day, we here in the City of Brotherly Love indulge in a day-long folk-music ritual of the best kind. A folk music ritual as interpreted by 10,000 people who put their heart and soul into their show, strutting in a riot of color and glitter and melody - starting the new year off in a celebration unlike that of any other city.

Click here to see a video of the Fralinger club Mummers in action~

This piece first appeared at the end of 2009. This year, Wide Open Spaces will be venturing into downtown Philadelphia on New Year's Day evening - not to see the Mummers specifically, but their presence is sure to be noticed!