Friday, January 1, 2021

HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉

Happy New Year's Day!!!!!!!!

We here at the ancestral home, my mother and I,  just put the pork and sauerkraut in the oven to slow roast for the day. It will taste so good tonight. One tradition that didn't change. While many things are different this year, it's no surprise that the huge tradition of the Mummers Parade also went on,  but in very different and changed ways, unlike the huge spectacle it usually is. The Mummers Parade conjures images of ornate costumes, long standing cultural traditions, intricate performances and string bands, and at times even controversy, in the minds of many Philadelphians. The word mummer derives from the mythological Greek god Momus, who was the god of satire or mockery- and in December each year commemorated the festival of Saturnalia by donning masks and satirizing current events. By the 17th  century, Swedish settlers put a new spin on it, while keeping the costumes and masks, shot firearms in hope neighbors would give them dessert and alcohol on Christmas. Even George Washington got in on the Mummer tradition once when it took place in the week leading up to New Years Day. In the 1800's, mummers continued to dress up for-an often boosy- mockery of the years events, but by 1901 it was getting more elaborate in costumes, and string bands and full on performances to day long spectacles ending late at night... and New Years Day became the offical day of the mummers parade, now making it the oldest folk festival in the country. While it may be different this year, they are still here in my mind, and I'm sure next year among the mummers, the drunken and good rowdy behavior in plumes and feathers and sequins will continue, to full scale debauchery once more. Till then.


Again...best wishes, happy tidings of health, peace, healing and good wishes to you all... now how about a tradition and a number from the Ferko String Band.

A very HAPPY NEW YEAR!


And for good measure for the year....some Fralinger String Band!

53 comments:

  1. Happy New Year, babe! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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  2. Happy New Year, Mistress! Our WQ will start the slow cooker with the traditional pork roast soon. The saur kraut will have to be heated up separately. She cannot bring herself to having the cabbage touch her meat. So I will part with my German ancestral tradition to keep peace at the holiday dinner table.
    Great archival photos of the Mummers. Too bad that the satirical quality of the tradition is taken too seriously.

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    1. I'm more in your camp. We have always cooked the pork in the sauerkraut, along with two garlic cloves, black pepper and fresh rosemary..its has a bit of hot to it....along with mashed taties, Brussels sprouts.

      Needless to say, its very musical tonight

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  3. dance dance dance the mummers strut!

    my fat ass just crawled outta bed 30 minutes ago. after breakfast, I'll get my pork roast in orange ginger sauce going in the crock pot. there will be sauerkraut for todd, apple sauce, biscuits, and plum pudding w/brandy sauce for dessert.

    HNY to you and your mom, dear friend!

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    1. I ate seconds of ours....Im not taking any chances with bad luck this year.

      Unfortunately the sky writing has begun......

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  4. Fun pictures. 2021 will be full
    of good things!
    xoxo :-)

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  5. Feathers and frou-frou and flounce - what a way to start the new year! I hope yours is a fabulous one!

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    1. Can have have to much feathers and frou frou?

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  6. Thanks for the history of "mummers" -- didn't know that! Happy New Year!

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  7. Happy New Year! May you enjoy sequins and feathers all year around.

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  8. Would love to see you kicking up your golden slippers in a Mummers Parade!

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    1. I've kicked up my golden slippers...just not in a parade.

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  9. Happy New Year! This is a most interesting post.

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  10. Happy New year MM!!

    It's leg of lamb a la Carlos for us today, and if the rain let's up a doggie trip to the park so Ozzo can run.

    Have a great day!

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    1. I enjoy lamb too....but only at Easter. And even then i feel guilty.

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  11. Maybe Korean BBQ for us...or maybe we'll make some Orange Chicken. The neighbors invited us over for Turkey chili and jalapeno cornbread and collards. What are they trying to do, kill me??? LOL. Have yourselves a very fine day. I sure liked the way you celebrated - it sure looked like you enjoyed yourself with a positive beginning! Hugs!

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    1. There is bound to be a lot of sky writing in that household.

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  12. Thank you for the history lesson to which I can add it is practised in parts of England, Newfoundland and Ireland and "known as mumming or janneying, it typically involves a group of friends or family who dress in disguise and visit homes within their community or neighbouring communities during the twelve days of Christmas. If the mummers are welcomed into a house, they often do a variety of informal performances that may include dance, music, jokes, or recitations. The hosts must guess the mummers' identities before offering them food or drink" sourced from wikipedia as I know nought about mumming bar that it is done by mummers. As a social historian my friend Sarah would no doubt be able to tell all about mumming

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    1. It's all so fun and fascinating isn't it?

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  13. Glittering, indeed. I am surprised they were allowed to have a parade this year, but then again the word "mummer" does derive from an Old German word for mask [the Momus connection being only one of several hypotheses], so in theory it should be one of the safest events to hold...

    Having only emerged from bed at 2pm (having had to haul myself to the couch in our front parlour because the workmen next year were letting loose with a drill on the wall next to the bedroom), the very thought of eating a roast pork dinner is making me feel a tad queasy. Maybe a "breakfast gin" might help.

    Anyway, Happy 2021, Maddie! Clink, clink! Jx

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    1. The huge parade itself didn't go on like in years past... the first time since 1901...and no string bands. The group's were filmed in smaller individuals segments to my knowledge...in their own neighborhoods. Seemed very odd to not see the televised parade from 9am till 11pm like years past. I'll look forward to its return next here.

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  14. Pretty!
    Happy New Year, dear!

    XOXO

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  15. Happy New Year!! I know I'm cooking sushi rice this afternoon/early evening but I have no idea if I'm going to make spicy tuna rolls or Spam musubi with it. I guess I'll find out around 4 pm whether or not I start marinating Spam slices in teriyaki sauce.

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    1. Go with the flow I say! Happy New Year!

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  16. Happy New Year. I do love a feather accessory. And I imagine smelling the pork and sauerkraut. I'm sure it smells amazing.

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    1. It sure did smell heavenly!!!! And tasted even better.

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  17. Happy days, indeed. This mummer thing sounds like fun and I adore the vintage photos. Enjoy your pork and sauerkraut, dear. Your mum is so blessed to have you in her life!

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    1. It's is a great time...and literally an all day affair. Next year it will return hopefully.

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  18. What an excellent post. Your not a true Philadelphian till you listen to Oh Dam Golden Slippers on New Years Day. And you dinner sounds excellent. Happy New Year!

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  19. Happy New Year! I remember watching the Mummers on TV... hell, it ran all day on Channel 6.

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    1. Sure did....an all day affair! It seemed weird to not see it today on, well like normal.

      Happy New Year Dave

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  20. Happy New Year! Let this be the beginning of a much better year.

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  21. Such glamor ! Just right for a new year
    May your 2021 be just as glamorous.

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  22. Hopefully in 2021 we can celebrate and bring out the dazzle.
    Coffee is on and stay safe

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    1. My dazzle is always out Dora, lol!!!!

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  23. Happy New Year! Apologies for my previous New Year drunken wishes :-)
    Sx

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  24. Wishing you Health Wealth and Happiness for the New year.

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  25. I’d love to come to the Mummers parade one year.

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    1. It's literally an all day affair of sequins, plumes, feathers and bangles!!!! And good music.

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  26. Happy New Year Mistress!!!!! Those old photos are amazing. Janine lived in Downtown Philly since little....its was very weird to not see and hating the parade yesterday...it was like a ghost town.but trust....I too had my pork and sauerkraut....with lots of pepper.

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    1. Living down there would be weird to noy seeing and hearing it. Even in the house it didn't sound right without the background mummer parade playing while mixing dinner.

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  27. Love those old photos. Reminds us our ancestors could party with the best of them.

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  28. I love the pictures. Nice to see our ancestors having a good time! In Portland we used to have the 'Do Dah' parade, which took the place of the Mummers Parade because it got kind of rowdy. The same thing happened to the Do Dah parade - one of the local radio stations was handing out 'electric apples' - an apple with a little cut in it filled with a slice of blotter acid - and someone took a trip without even leaving the barn (extra points if you get the reference) and so, 'twas LSD that killed the Do Dah day. Hopefully next year your parade will be back and full of fun!

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    1. I bet that is a roit! The pandemic certainly did derail much. I cant remember a year in my lifetime the summers didn't have a parade....rain or shine....

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  29. Happy New Year and I'm glad at the Ancestral Home things had the stability of Tradition and Ritual with you and Mother. Also, Thanks for the History Lesson of the Mummers Parade, which I have heard of but did not know the Back Story of at all or what it represents now. One Blogger I follow always goes and I guess this Year she didn't due to Pandemic and I'm sure if you participate all the time that would be a letdown and a break with time honored Tradition for the Holidays. Anything with Costume I'm all in for!

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    1. Same to you Dawn!!!! Yes...it took a pandemic to stop the summers....the first time since the very early 1900's. But we had a good holiday and I must admit was actually enjoyable without all the hub bub. Nice and relaxing. Enjoy our little bubble of family and friends.

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  30. Since the mummers didn't go on like years past the post brought home the feel of the parade...and loved hearing two most appropriate music selections. I agree with the Empress....It was surreal not to see and hear the festivities going on in town this year.

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    1. I You Tubed many videos just to hear the music. Almost doesn't seem right without any string band music right? Hope your well my little cellist.

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  31. The only folks I know who eat pork with saurkraut on new years are all from the northeast! :) I love saurkraut but rarely eat it because I'm the only one in this house that will. Occasionally I buy a jar of the cold Claussen saurkraut to put on hotdogs or sausage dogs (my favorites....you know how us girls like our big sausages!!!) Happy New Year!

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    1. I think your right Jennifer. Seems to be a northeast tradition but more ecen so a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition. It is SO GOOD......and with lots of garlic.

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  32. I always loved your New Years day post about the mummers. Hope you was a nice start to the New Year. How is MS Moorecock?

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!