MUMMERS MOOD

 Hope everyone survived the New Year festivities! A good time all around here at the Casa du Borghese. Another one in the books, and another delish Pork and Sauerkraut dinner. Don't worry if you didn't partake... I ate enough to bring us all good luck in the New Year. Of course, the other tradition was the Philadelphia Mummers with their literally, all day and night parade, which didn't disappoint.  It's become a tradition each New Year's Day what with living in Bucks County for those 24 years, and before that my uncle lived in Philly, so we'd see the parade then when I was a wee one. Wouldn't be New Years Day without seeing the parade or hearing, Oh Dem' Golden Slippers. It started in 1901 and is now the longest running folk parade in the US but has ties in one form or another way back to President George Washington who carried out the official custom of New Years Day calls during the seven years he occupied President's House in Philadelphia. It was then that 20-30 Mummers went door to door shooting and shouting and adapting little stories with music. Eventually in the 18th century going pub to pub demanding free ale. But in 1901 is when it became a first official parade, we now see, with its first string band. And while there are women in the Mummers, it still blows my mind that many of these mummers are straight males...longshoremen, doctors, mechanics, craftsmen, contractors, lawyers, electricians and union workers... that they will prance down the city streets in full on theatrical make up, and decked in sequins, plumes, feathers, beads, jewels, and  all things shiny, and very detailed I may add, and put on choreographed dance and string band performances that are nothing short of Broadway production numbers. Not to mention all ages from a year old to some in their 80's, with 3 and 4th generations of families involved.  Long Live the Mummers I say!

 Duffy String Band is always one of my favorites. This year their theme was Where the Wild Things Are. Their Captain Jake Kudrick is only 17 and took over at the age of 11 when his father passed away. I can recall him being on the news when I lived in Bucks County, and in tears talking of his father's passing, so quite amazing to see him still in the reigns and growing up before our eyes.

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!

NEW YEAR'S MUMMERY

Once again, Philadelphia ushers in a new year with the rip-roaring spectacle that is the Mummers Parade. The over-the-top procession steps off for its 119th year on New Year’s Day, bringing more than 10,000 outlandishly dressed mostly men, some women, children and drag queens to the all-day parade and party on Broad Street between City Hall and Washington Avenue.

The Mummers Parade is held each New Year's Day in Philadelphia each year, and it is believed to be the oldest folk festival in the United States. Local clubs ,usually called "New Years Associations", compete in one of four categories ,comics, fancies, string bands, and fancy brigades. They prepare elaborate costumes, performance routines, and moveable scenery, to challenge any drag show for sure, and which take months to complete. The parade traces back to mid-17th-century roots, blending elements from Swedish, Finnish, Irish, English, German, and other European heritages, as well as African heritage.

The Mummers Parade is one of Philadelphia’s longest-running traditions of the city, and has been partying their way into the new year at the Center City procession, which today features more than 10,000 Mummers embroiled in noisy camaraderie and a competition for local bragging rights, and make up more than 40 organized clubs that fall under one of five themed groups: Fancies, Comics, Wenches, String Bands and Fancy Brigades. The groups work all year to create lavish costumes and plan choreography that they present to the masses along Broad Street every New Year’s Day.Each division knows its role: The Comics and Wench Brigades satirize issues, institutions and people; the Fancies impress with glamorous outfits that rival those of royalty; the String Bands play banjoes, saxophones, percussion and other reed and string instruments; and the Fancy Brigades produce tightly choreographed theatrical extravaganzas to rival even Broadway productions Philadelphia’s 119-year-old drag-ful New Year’s Day parade now embraces and features genuine drag queens, members of the well-heeled Miss Fancy Brigade Association.

A grand old tune.  

But yours's truly is with guest watching the spectacle from home, as we will be having another New Year's tradition... my annual Pork and Sauerkraut dinner for good luck.  So a Happy New Year to you , let's start the year off right shall we? A song with a true message.

MUM'S THE WORD

The Mummers have taken over the streets of Philadelphia for the longest running tradition of folk parade in the country and will revival any drag show!!!!The New Year’s Day parade is a 118 year, unique Philadelphia tradition that is pure fun, enjoyment, and folk art, and has withstood the test of time because of the strength of the diverse communities the mummers represent. This year is especially nice because the first ever drag queen brigade will be in the parade called, Miss Fancy Brigade headed up by Philadelphia legend Brittany Lynn. This truly is a great city!!!! A spectacle to behold for sure........ 

Another part of the Mummers tradition is a song that was wrote over 130 years ago!

Most people probably have never heard the name James A. Bland. But if you live in Philadelphia, you've heard at least one of his songs. "Oh, Dem Golden Slippers" — a tune Bland wrote in 1879 — is the unofficial anthem of the Mummers Parade and many of the string bands. It's played every year at the start of the New Year's Day parade. In his time, Bland was a popular songwriter and minstrel performer. Unfortunately Bland wrote nearly 700 songs and got credit for about 30 of them. The international showman eventually lost his fame and fortune when Vaudeville music became popular and pushed minstrel shows to the sidelines, but not before Bland made his mark on the music and culture of Philadelphia. James A. Bland spent his later years in obscurity. He died from tuberculosis May 5, 1911, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bland was buried in an unmarked grave without a funeral at Merion Memorial Park, Bala Cynwyd. In 1939, his grave was found by American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers and his grave was landscaped and a monument was erected, as well as a new exhibit in the Mummer's Museum, who thankfully keep his music alive. 

Filmed at Marconi Plaza, Philadelphia, at the beginning of the Mummers Parade a couple years ago.

My favorite performance from last year. Quaker City String Band. And just how adorable is Captain Jimmy Goode?

We've been watching all day, as it is literally a all day event ending at 10:30 tonight. Now to get my pork and sauerkraut in.....for added good luck!

HAPPY NEW YEAR POSSUM'S!!!