Happy New Year to all of you!!!!!!
I am sure now I'm recovered from the bubbly last night, but probably still lapping it up like a dog to a bone, and I have thrown in my pork and sauerkraut dinner for tonight that will be served with garlic mashed potatoes and glazed Brussel sprouts. It is already smelling yummmmmmmmy!!!!! But, that is only one tradition here...the other is the viewing of the legendary Mummer's Parade right here in Philadelphia, which is huge business!!! It just isn't New Years Day with the Mummers!!!!
This New Year’s Day, groups of extravagantly costumed men and women and kids...your never to young to be a mummer, dressed in parasols, sequins, and feathers abound, will parade down Broad Street in Philadelphia to ring in 2016 with comedy, song, and dance. And it’s a New Year’s celebration like no other.For many local families, it’s a tradition that spans generations and involves serious amounts of creativity, imagination, and hard work. After all, the majority of folks you see en route are not professional actors, dancers, or singers – they are our neighbors, the people we ride next to on the train and say hello to at the grocery store. Dozens of participating clubs, comprising thousands of members, practice all year for the parade. Members often help make their own costumes and plan their music and dance routines.
Though for years prior, citizens took to the streets in costume to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s, Philadelphia’s first official Mummers Parade took place in 1901. Eventually, the parade morphed into the event we see today, which includes colorful string bands and comic brigades. One of my favorite brigade to see is Froggy Car, who just invade the streets...literally. Some clubs participate in the fancy division, which include floats and music. The most elaborate group, the fancy brigades, once marched with the rest of the divisions. However, as they began to create more complex and large-scale theatrical productions, their performances were moved indoors.
It truly is a spectacle to be seen!
Again....A Happy New Year to you all, and I have been enjoying reading when I can your traditions for the New Year!
Again....A Happy New Year to you all, and I have been enjoying reading when I can your traditions for the New Year!
FUCK YEAH! PHILLY OWNS NEW YEAR'S DAY! now where did I put my umbrella and golden slippers...
ReplyDeletemy pork roast has filled my house with dee-lish smells!
I have the Mummers on here! I always enjoy watching it. I can just imagine all the good smells in your place today. From the blog header above, was there a can-can line dance at the Casa last night?
ReplyDeleteI think it was probably more of a 'bottle-bottle' line dance.
DeleteHAPPY New Year....looks like a gigantic drag show!!!! Pretty amazing!
ReplyDeletepretty much.
DeleteWOW. Philly sure does go all out!!!! Its cool that it seem to really overtake the whole city. I see it on tv, neat to see the full scale performances go on right in the streets. Happy New Year to all.
ReplyDeleteI was too hung over to go see it today, but can hear the festivities from my apartment windows. It is an entire day filled with wild colors and sounds and people you just can't find anywhere else. Happy New Year....enjoy that delish dinner!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Mistress!!!!! I would swear I can smell your dinner, or is that something else? Love the Mummers. My uncle lived a stone's throw from Broad Street, and when I was a small girl my family would always spend New Year's Day going back and forth between shivering outside at the parade and warming up inside watching on TV the bands who had marched by twenty minutes earlier. The parade has changed somewhat since the old days, but it's still a one-of-a-kind spectacle that really should be experienced in person. Your header is cute too.
ReplyDeleteyou smell either the dinner or the mistress broke wind again.
DeleteIncredulous!
ReplyDeleteOnly Philadelphia throws a huge party first thing in the morning after New Years Eve!!!
ReplyDeleteIt took me years to finally be in town for the parade, but I LOVED IT! It was sooo much fun.
What an amazing way to spend the first day of the new year! Very enjoyable and those costumes are quite amazing. Your dinner sounds amazing too.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great and happy way to start the new year. I love all the vibrant colors and people.
ReplyDeleteFancy Brigades are my faves - and loves the comics especially Froggie Carr's crew. Also Fralinger's and the South Philly Vikings are always great fun to see
ReplyDeleteThanks for the photos! My friend who is in the Mummers' Parade has quit blogging so I won't be able to read her account this year.
ReplyDeleteCheers & Happy New I saw the parade once,pretty cool to see.
ReplyDeleteSpectacular; it makes one smile (especially the cows).
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you for the year ahead.
While I have never seen in person, the Mummers parade is a New Year's tradition I just can't live without I always watch on tv.
ReplyDeleteWell, THAT certainly sets the tone for the New Year!
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I have never seen this till this year? I remember you posting it. It was incredible to watch, and after googling several site I found the history and organization of this parade quite astounding. I watched all day and s till am.
ReplyDeleteBetween the parade and that dinner, we'll see you sky writing your name in the stars tonight.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Years! Thanks for the wonderful post and photos. It is not shown on TV here, so I truly appreciate this! I love how you embrace the holidays.
ReplyDeleteShame on me, I have never heard of this one before. New Year brings out some of the most colourful parades in the world! I was just looking into the Chinese New Year celebrations in San Fran and it too of course is an amalgamation of a US parade and that of traditional Chinese culture. Thanks for posting. Hope your dinner was a success.
ReplyDeleteI have seen the parade once. Before I attended the Mummer’s Parade, I thought it looked like a lot of fun with all the fancy costumes, but it is so much more than that! Each team stops at designated points to perform their “play” complete with scenery. The scenery must break down to be pullable by the performers. Then they reach the next designated point and start all over again. All-in-all an amazing feat.
ReplyDeleteBut then there are the spectators. People are draped over street signs, lamp posts and utility boxes — not to mention the many second story apartments and offices with all windows open and three or more folks huddled to watch. Everyone is drinking, laughing, getting to know each other in their vicinity, and generally having a ball.I happened to have friends a few blocks away and went for meatball subs after the parade. What a day!
Has someone raided the Mistress's closet again?
ReplyDeletewow!!
ReplyDeleteI loved the way your blog looks
ReplyDeleteHappy new year and do visit my blog
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Oh my gosh. Looking at the pictures and watching on the tube, it looks like fun for people of all ages. I would absolutely check this out if I lived there
ReplyDeleteMummers, eh? Goodness, I thought the Casa was having a Drag Show. I’ve heard, but never seen of it (then again, I’m ashamed to say – as a Boomer American, I’ve never been to Philadelphia yet. Incredible.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year Maddie!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Mistress!!! What a drag show!
ReplyDeleteWishing you the most fabulous year ever, darling!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Jon
Dear Mistress
ReplyDeleteThough desperately late, I do want to wish you the best of the season, with hopes that the New Year brings you all the grace and promise one can imagine and hope to attain...
Peace and Love and Cheers!