Mummering / Janneying

[Gibs]

If I were to say Mummering or Janneying, would you know what I am talking about? Have you ever took part in the tradition? Do they celebrate anything like it where you live?

We have always called it Mummering here, and it is a tradition that has faded out some over the more recent years.

My daughter (7) and some of the girls from her class all dressed up and went mummering during Christmas, and they will be in the newspaper here this comming week.

Here is some information on what Mummering is:

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in Canada, has a two-hundred-year long tradition of mummering or janneying between Christmas and January 6 (Twelfth Day). In complete disguise the mummers go from house to house to entertain and socialize. Often men dress as outsized women, but no one is supposed to be recognizable. People often give alcoholic beverages to the mummers.

Sometime during the twelve days of Christmas, usually on the night of the "Old Twelfth", People would disguise themselves with old articles of clothing and visit the homes of their friends and neighbours. They would even cover their faces with a hood, scarf, mask or pillowcase to keep their identity hidden. Men would sometimes dress as women and women as men. They would go from house to house. They usually carried their own musical instruments to play, sing and dance in every house they visited. The host and hostess of these 'mummers parties' would serve a small lunch of Christmas cake with a glass of syrup or blueberry or dogberry wine. All mummers usually drink a Christmas "grog" before they leave each house. (A grog is a drink of an alcoholic beverage such as rum or whiskey.)

When mummers visit everyone in the house starts playing a guessing game. They try to guess the identity of each mummer. As each one is identified they uncover their faces, but if their true identity is not guessed they do not have to unmask.
For a time the old tradition of "Mummering", or "Jannying" as it is sometimes called, seemed to fade, especially in the larger centers of Newfoundland. But in recent years, thanks to the popular musical duo, Simini, who wrote and recorded "The Mummer's Song" in 1982, mummering has been revived. It is just as prevalent and popular as it was years ago and young and old look forward to dressing up this Christmas, knocking on a friend's door and calling out "ANY MUMMERS ALLOWED IN?"

Here is a video from youtube about mummering

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E86bcriRtW8"]YouTube- The Mummer's Song by Simani[/ame]

[Suzanne Sky]

I had heard of Mummers but didn't really know what it was all about. Now I do, thanks to you and the video! How neat! I love it when old traditions come back. So how did your daughter and her friends dress up? In the video it was all just regular clothes but 'odd' or different. Is this how it is supposed to be, or do some people use costumes? I guess the main thing is that their faces be completely covered since part of it is meant to be a guessing game.

Thanks so much for your post, gibblerkelly!

[Ceashels]

What a great tradition. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[Michelle68]

What a fun tradition! Thanks for the video. I've heard of "mummering" before, but I never knew exactly what it was.

[Gibs]

Here they dress up just like the video, old clothes, mitts, hats, their faces covered, we have a few pictures from it. I will try to post one of Robyn dressed up before she went to go.

[Gibs]

[Suzanne Sky]

LOL! Thanks so much for the photo! Everything is covered completely except for her eyes and mouth! I know everyone had a great time.

[Gibs]

They had an awesome time, got some treats too. They are excited to be in the newspaper next week as well.

[NewLeaf]

I had heard of this tradition but I had no idea it was still practiced. How cool!

[miss_thrifty]

it sounds something like ours here in PEI.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZndKyV63bs"]YouTube- Mi Carême 2009[/ame]

[mrsfoamy]

Awesome! I've seen pictures from Europe before, but not our continent! Good times, looks like you had fun.

[rosey7415]

i had never heard of this. sounds like a great time!!!!

[akolb]

Ive heard of it! But in the context of Cajun Mardi Gras down here in Louisiana. Heres some info I found...

What are the characteristics of the Cajun Courier du Mardi Gras?

Through the centuries, there have been many examples of visitation traditions as a form of celebration –– and not just at Carnival time. The early Mummers in Philadelphia, for example, would wear costumes and visit from house to house on New Year’s Day. Courier de Mardi Gras is a visitation tradition in which masked horseback riders, often followed by a bandwagon, make their “run” by going from house to house to “beg” for items used in preparing a gumbo.

Where is the Courier celebrated?

Obviously in Cajun Country, particularly west of the Atchafalaya in the prairie areas around Mamou and Eunice.

What are the roots of those two carnivals?

Although Mardi Gras is a French name and New Orleans was a French town, Carnival as it evolved was largely Anglo-Saxon in influence (including the creation of the contrived word “krewe”). With lineage that traces back to Mobile, Ala., and further back to the Mummers in Philadelphia, what evolved in New Orleans is the classic American carnival, which, like many things American, has a touch of European influence. The Courier has roots that trace more directly back to medieval France.

You have mentioned the Mummers in talking about those two strains –– how did they affect Carnival?

Evidence is that the Mummers influenced those who founded the Mobile Mardi Gras. (Indeed, the leader was from near the Pennsylvania city.) The Mobile group was known as the Cowbellians, and in their initial march on New Year’s 1831, they made stops, including at the home of the mayor, so there was a trace of the visitation tradition, too. Years later, in 1857, some former Mobile Cowbellians would be instrumental in founding the Mistick Krewe of Comus in New Orleans. Besides creating the word “krewe” and introducing the float to the New Orleans Carnival, Comus would originate the city’s parading tradition from which all else evolved. Early Philadelphia mummery was a distant influence on what evolved in New Orleans, yet because of its European roots (primarily Scandinavian), mummery also had characteristics of the celebration held in Cajun country.

[joyofsix]

Yes, mumming we called it.

[cab54]

Is this along the same lines? It's one of my favorite songs/vids, and it's the only introduction to Mummers/Mummering I've ever had.

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQUruecAjXU"]YouTube- Loreena McKennitt - The Mummers' Dance Video remix stereo version HD upconverted 4:3[/nomedia]