Dem Golden Slippers. The only Fancy Division club today is Golden Sunrise. I think the Native Americans might also have some animistic ways.

That reveling, by the way, including lots of gun fire (why not?). In Europe these mummers would parade around streets, enter random houses and play dice in silence (because that's not creepy at all). Animist beliefs practices are still a part of many cultures today – including many African cultures, the shamans of Siberians, South Americans, and many other places, Western Pagans groups, and various parts of the Far East. It is also believed that these plays were performed around the end of the year and during the harvesting season because it was intended to be a celebration of the death of the year and its coming again in the Spring. A monthly update on our latest interviews, stories and added songs, Although this is an original song composed by Loreena McKennitt, it has its roots in a centuries old tradition. I had forgotten her name, if I’d ever heard it. The Mummers Museum shares this "famous Mummers poem": How did the tradition spread to Philadelphia?

Mummers' plays are folk plays performed by troupes of amateur actors, traditionally all male, known as mummers or guisers (also by local names such as rhymers, pace-eggers, soulers, tipteerers, wrenboys, and galoshins).

The first track on the CD was “The Mummer’s Dance.” Hmm.. that title .. seemed familiar. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. At a designated point in the ritual, the men commence a rhythmic "swordfight" - the sounds of the swords adding a dramatic accompaniment to the music. and when the fiddler plays Mummer definition, a person who wears a mask or fantastic costume while merrymaking or taking part in a pantomime, especially at Christmas and other festive seasons.

And so they linked their hands and danced A music video was also produced for the selection. Dem Golden Slippers" is the traditional anthem of the Mummers. "Oh! I’m going to print out the lyrics again, and add some of my own commentary – my own interpretation. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The most famous mummer-related event in North America is the annual Mummers Parade which is held on New Year's Day in Philadelphia.

I believe the Japanese have practices where they tie prayers to trees at a certain time of year. It made me think of a Christmas tree not because it was that kind of tree but because placing things on it made it seem like we could make a prayer scroll and tie it with ribbon on a special tree. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. I too have what you would call “pagan feelings” toward this song. See more. This play is sometimes found associated with a sword dance though both also exist in Britain independently. Don't feel like braving the cold to see the Mummers in person? We interviewed Rusty Martz, president of the board of directors of the Mummers Museum back in 2017, utilized old school research methods and consulted an encyclopedia and read Charles E. Welch Jr.'s "Oh! Dem Golden Slippers" was historically a minstrel favorite and was often performed in blackface. "In Philadelphia, it used to be a celebration of rivalry between the neighborhoods," Martz said. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 , No. m_gallery_permalink = "http://photos.pennlive.com/4503/gallery/philadelphia_mummers_parade/index.html"; And a happy, bright New Year. A merry Christmas is our wish

Photo Credit & More Details: H. J. Moncrieff, All Silver And No Brass The city figured with its involvement it could tone down the parade. God bless the master of this house When the music begins, the players sway left and right and then, with their swords held above their heads, they make the outline of an upright figure eight.

While the origins of mumming and the Mummer's Play aren't definitive, it's obvious when one reads the verses of Irish traditional mumming that many of the characters, for example, St. George, are so closely related to England, that one must logically assume the custom was brought to Ireland by the British. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. This year's String Bands are Greater Overbrook, Fralinger, Quaker City, Aqua, Pennsport, Broomall, Ferko, South Philadelphia, Avalon, Polish American, Greater Kensington, Uptown, Hegeman, Durning, Woodland and Duffy. (speaking directly to nature – at the door to nature is the edge of the forest). Proof: no more gunfire during the parade. A garland gay we bring you here