mummers
Disguised folk actors
Mummers are performers in traditional folk plays or processions, typically wearing masks or costumes and acting out stylized dramas.
The tradition survives most visibly in Philadelphia's annual Mummers Parade, where elaborately costumed groups compete in music, dance, and comic performances on New Year's Day.
Historically, mummers went door to door performing short plays, often at Christmas.
Inherited cultural narratives
- customHabitual group practice
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- midwinterSeason's coldest period
- solsticeDay of maximum tilt
Christmas · wassailing · door-to-door · seasonal · ancient · pagan · medieval · Newfoundland
Identity-concealing alteration
- maskFace-worn concealment
- costumeClothing for portrayal
- attirePersonal garments collectively
- garbWhat one wears
regalia · robe · cloak · vestments · finery · headdress · blackface · ribbons
Formal moving line
- comicsSequential art medium
- wenchArchaic term for girl
- struttingWalking with exaggerated pride
- banjosFretted instruments with circular bodies
glockenspiels · saxophones · feathers · sequins · floats · Philadelphia · clubs · divisions
Traveling group of performers
- actorsThose playing roles
- thespiansStage performers collectively
- playersGame participants
- disguisersThose who hide identity
troupers · entertainers · revelers · merrymakers · carolers · wassailers · buskers · jesters
Performing in disguise
- resurrectionRevival from death
- rhymingSharing terminal sounds
- call-and-responseAlternating musical exchange
- improvisationSpontaneous, unplanned creation
Unknown identity state
- maskingConcealing by covering
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- veilingConcealing with covering
mystery · transformation · mischief · trickery · rule-breaking · inversion · misrule · unmasking
folklore
Inherited cultural narratives
solstice · Christmas · wassailing · door-to-door · seasonal · ancient · pagan · medieval · Newfoundland · Appalachian
disguise
Identity-concealing alteration
garb · regalia · robe · cloak · vestments · finery · headdress · blackface · ribbons · bells
procession
Formal moving line
banjos · glockenspiels · saxophones · feathers · sequins · floats · Philadelphia · clubs · divisions · captain
troupe
Traveling group of performers
disguisers · troupers · entertainers · revelers · merrymakers · carolers · wassailers · buskers · jesters · impersonators
mumming
Performing in disguise
- resurrectionRevival from death
- rhymingSharing terminal sounds
- call-and-responseAlternating musical exchange
anonymity
Unknown identity state
- maskingConcealing by covering
- incognitoWith identity concealed
- concealmentAct of hiding something
veiling · mystery · transformation · mischief · trickery · rule-breaking · inversion · misrule · unmasking · reveal
- Slavic traditionsOrthodox Christmas, caroling, blini
- festivitiesparty, parades, celebration, carnivals, festival
- folk culturefolk customs, folk beliefs, folk costume, folk crafts, folk medicine
- parade participantsmarching band, floats, drum majors, majorettes, baton twirlers
- British Folklorefairy, fairies, pixie, pixies, brownie
- theater groupsacting company, theater troupe, troupe, repertory theater, repertory theatre
mummersstage actors
Live theater performers
thespians · opera singers · Shakespearean actors · theatrical performers · prima donnas
mummersspectators
Those who observe events
onlookers · bystanders · theatergoers · viewers · observers
mummersorators
Eloquent public speakers
speakers · announcers · narrators · vocalists · spokespeople