M is for Mummers

The Mummer's Song

I've mentioned Mummers (aka mumming or janneying) here before, but I love it.  So here's the short version.... during the 12 days of Christmas, men and women throw pillow cases over their heads, disguising themselves in old clothing padded in the all wrong places and going from house to house visiting, playing music, singing songs, disguising their voices and drinking your booze, while the homeowners try to correctly identify them.

 

Any mummers lowed in?

Its pretty fair to say that I'm more than just a little homesick the past few days. If I was home tonight, I'd be out mummering with my sisters.

Mummering or Jannying has been a tradition in Newfoundland since colonists from England brought the custom over in the beginning of the seventeenth century. Mummer comes from the old French ‘momer’ which means to wear a mask; pantomime. In particular, it refers to a masked or costumed merrymaker, especially at a festival.

Christmas revellers disguise themselves with old clothing and cover their faces with a hood, scarf or mask and go from house to house in their community sometime during the twelve nights of Christmas.

Mummers usually carry musical instruments so they can entertain; sing and dance in the houses they visit. In exchange for a cup of grog and a bit of Christmas cake of course. Then a great guessing game ensues as everyone tries to guess the identities of the mummers. if guessed correctly, the mummers remove their masks, if not they can keep them on.