Editing Mummers Parade (section)

==History==
===17th century===
[[File:The Holy Rollers N.Y.B. in the 2008 Mummers Parade.jpg|thumb|Members of the [[Holy Rollers N.Y.B.]] in the 2008 parade presenting their theme "Our Hearts are Wild for Diamonds"]]
[[File:Mummers2005-stringband.jpg|thumb|A few members of the [[Aqua String Band]] in the 2005 parade presenting their theme "Just Plain Dead"]]
[[File:Mummers2005-fancy.jpg|thumb|A "fancy" mummer in the 2005 parade]]
[[File:GoldenSunrise.jpg|thumb|Golden Sunrise Fancy Club members participate in the 2007 parade]]
The parade traces back to mid-17th-century roots, blending elements from [[Swedes|Swedish]], [[Finns|Finnish]], Irish, English, German, and other European heritages, as well as African heritage.<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.phila.gov/recreation/mummers/mummers_history.html|title=Mummers Parade History|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516223647/http://www.phila.gov/recreation/mummers/Mummers_History.html|archive-date=2008-05-16}}. [[Philadelphia Parks & Recreation|Philadelphia Department of Recreation]].</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Tadeushuk, Patrick |url=http://www.fieldtrip.com/pa/53363050.htm |title=Special, History – Mummers Museum |publisher=Fieldtrip.com |date= March 29, 2007 |access-date= August 14, 2011}}</ref>

The parade is related to the [[Mummers Play]] tradition from [[Great Britain]] and [[Ireland]].<ref name="pfp1">{{cite journal |year=1992 |title=Multicultural Views: Traditional gardens, palm-weaving, Khmer arts, and mummery |url=http://www.folkloreproject.org/folkarts/resources/papers.cfm |url-status=dead |journal=Working Papers |publisher=Philadelphia Folklore Project |issue=7 |oclc=42829189 |id=New York Public Library [https://www.nypl.org/research/research-catalog/bib/hb990072727510203941 hb990072727510203941] (call number F158.9.A1 M85 1992). |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106160856/http://www.folkloreproject.org/folkarts/resources/papers.cfm |archive-date=January 6, 2008 |df=mdy}}</ref> Revivals of this tradition are still celebrated annually in [[Marshfield, South Gloucestershire#The Mummers of Marshfield|South Gloucestershire, England]] on [[Boxing Day]] along with other locations in England and in parts of Ireland on [[Saint Stephen's Day]] and also in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador around Christmas.

[[Swedes]] and [[Finns]], early European colonists in the Philadelphia area, brought the custom of visiting neighbors on "Second Day Christmas" (December 26) with them to [[Tinicum Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Tinicum]]. This was soon extended through New Year's Day with costumed celebrants loudly parading through the city.<ref name="pfp1"/><ref name="tradition">[http://www.phillymummers.com/history.htm "The Philadelphia Tradition"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223142359/http://www.phillymummers.com/history.htm |date=December 23, 2007 }}. Philadelphia Mummers Association. Retrieved November 27, 2007.</ref> They appointed a "speech director", who performed a special dance with a traditional rhyme:
{{cquote|Here we stand before your door,<br />As we stood the year before;<br />
Give us [[whiskey]]; give us [[gin]],<br />Open the door and let us in.<ref name="tradition"/><ref name="Ancient Custom"/><br />Or give us something nice and hot<br />Like a steaming hot bowl of [[Philadelphia Pepper Pot|pepper pot]]!<ref name="folklore">{{cite journal | last=Welch | first=Charles E. Jr. | title = "Oh, Dem Golden Slippers": The Philadelphia Mummers Parade| journal = [[Journal of American Folklore]] | volume = 79| issue = 314 | pages = 523–536 | publisher = The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 79, No. 314| date = October–December 1966| doi =10.2307/538218 | jstor = 538218 }}</ref>}}

===18th century===
The Mummers derive their name from the [[Mummers play|Mummers' plays]] performed in [[Philadelphia]] in the 18th century as part of a wide variety of working class street celebrations around Christmas. By the early 19th century, these coalesced with earlier Swedish customs, including the Christmas neighbor visits and possibly shooting firearms on New Year's Day (although this was common in other countries as well) as well as the [[Pennsylvania Dutch|Pennsylvania German]] custom of [[Belsnickel|"belsnickling,"]] where adults in disguise questioned children about their behavior during the previous year.<ref name="jstor.org">{{cite journal|last1=Davis|first1=Susan G.|title=Making Night Hideous: Christmas Revelry and Public Order in Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia|journal=American Quarterly|date=Summer 1982|volume=34|issue=2|pages=185–199|jstor=2712609|doi=10.2307/2712609}}</ref>

[[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[George Washington]] carried on the official custom of New Year's Day calls during the seven years he occupied [[President's House (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)|President's House]] in Philadelphia. The Mummers continued their traditions of comic verse in exchange for cakes and ale. Small groups of up to twenty mummers, their faces blackened, went door to door, shooting and shouting, and adapting the English Mummer's play by replacing the character of "King George" with that of "General Washington."<ref name="Ancient Custom"/>

===19th century===
Throughout the 19th century, large groups of disguised and sometimes [[blackface]]d working class young men roamed the streets on New Year's Day, organizing processions, firing weapons into the air, demanding free drinks in taverns, and generally challenging middle and upper-class notions of order and decorum.<ref name="jstor.org"/>

An 1808 law decreed that "masquerades" and "masquerade halls" were "common nuisances" and that anyone participating would be subject to a fine and imprisonment. It was apparently never successfully enforced and was repealed in 1859.<ref name="Ancient Custom"/><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Marion |first=John Francis |date=January 1981 |title=On New Year's Day in Philadelphia, Mummer's the word: each January, thousands don outlandish costumes and strut to the thumping beat of string bands in a colorful tribal parade |magazine=[[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]] |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |pages=80+ |volume=11 |id={{Gale|A1778085}}.}}</ref><ref name="the word">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614205533/http://riverfrontmummers.com/mummers/articles/article1.html "On New Year's Day in Philadelphia, Mummer's the Word"]}}. rivefrontmummers.com.  Archived version retrieved January 4, 2008.</ref> [[Henry Muhlenberg]], writing in 1839, reported, "Men met on the roads in Tinicum and Kingsessing, who were disguised as clowns, shouting at the top of their voices and shooting guns.<ref name="Ancient Custom">{{cite web|url=http://riverfrontmummers.com/mummers/articles/oldmum.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041210094949/http://riverfrontmummers.com/mummers/articles/oldmum.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2004-12-10 |title=The Ancient Custom of Mummery |access-date=2020-01-17}}</ref>

By the 1880s, unable to suppress the custom, the Philadelphia city government began to pursue a policy of co-option, requiring participants to join organized groups with designated leaders who had to apply for permits and were responsible for their groups’ actions. The earliest documented club, the Chain Gang, had formed in 1840 and Golden Crown first marched in 1876 with cross-town rivals Silver Crown forming soon after. By 1881, a local report said "Parties of paraders" made the street "almost like a masked Ball."<ref name="the word"/> By 1900, these groups formed part of an organized, city-sanctioned parade with cash prizes for the best performances.<ref name="jstor.org"/>
 	
[[Plantations in the American South|Southern plantation]] life's contributions include the parade's theme song, [[James A. Bland]]'s "[[Oh, Dem Golden Slippers]]" (introduced in 1903), as well as the 19th-century [[cakewalk]], dubbed the "Mummers' Strut" or the "2 Street Strut".<ref name="history"/><ref name="tradition"/>

===20th century===
The first official parade was held January 1, 1901. The first string band, Trilby, was organized in 1898, first paraded in 1902, and last paraded in 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Panaritis |first=Maria |date=Dec 28, 2014 |title=ALL IS NOT GAIETY BENEATH THE FEATHERS: Dwindling, Mummers are scaling back.<!-- p. B1 on Newspapers.com --> / MUMMERS<!-- from "See MUMMERS on B4" on p. B1 on Newspapers.com --> / Feathers and glitter cover a grim tale<!-- p. B4 on Newspapers.com --> / Under the gaiety, Mummers are in grim fight to survive<!-- Nexis Uni and Dow Jones Factiva --> |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |department=Local News |publisher=Interstate General Media |pages=B1, B4 |edition=<!-- Newspapers.com: the line below the nameplate on p. A1 states "SUNDAY DECEMBER 28, 2014 | ESTABLISHED IN 1829 | <Facebook logo> <Twitter logo> PHILLYINQUIRER | CITY & SUBURBS | C | $2", and the top-left corner of p. B1 states "B  The Inquirer | SUNDAY, DEC. 28, 2014 | PHILLY.COM | C*  LOCAL NEWS"; Nexis Uni: "CITY-D Edition" and "Section: PHILADELPHIA; P-com News Local; Pg. B01"; Factiva: "ED: CITY-D" and "IPD: P-com News Local" --> |volume=186 <!-- "186th year" --> |issue=211 |issn=08856613 |id={{Factiva|PHLI000020141228eacs00006}}. [[Newspapers.com]] [https://www.newspapers.com/image/199701285/?match=1&terms=%22Joseph%20Kaminski%20is%20broken%20up%22 199701285], [https://www.newspapers.com/image/199701444/?terms=%22much-shortened%20parade%22%20%22route%20this%20year%22&match=1 199701444]. [[Nexis Uni]] [https://advance.lexis.com/api/document?collection=news&id=urn%3acontentItem%3a5DY2-K6V1-DYJT-227X-00000-00 {{small|5DY2-K6V1-DYJT-227X-00000-00}}]. {{ProQuest|1640922637}}.}} The original has about 1116 to 1353 words; whole and partial reproductions include: {{Citation |title=Mummers' famous Trilby band is sidelined for Philadelphia parade |date=28 Dec 2014 |work=TCA News Service (TNS) |publisher=Tribune Content Agency / McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |id={{ProQuest|1640637924}}}}; {{Citation |title=Under the gaiety, Mummers are in grim fight to survive |date=28 Dec 2014 |work=TCA Regional News |id={{ProQuest|1640608824}}}}; {{Citation |title=Philadelphia Mummers band in fight to survive |date=29 Dec 2014 |work=The Charleston Gazette |page=A.13 |id={{Factiva|CGAZ000020141230eact00053}}, {{ProQuest|1640889037}}}}; {{Citation |title=Mummers’ famous Trilby band is sidelined for Philadelphia parade |date=December 28, 2014 |work=Reading Eagle |url=https://www.readingeagle.com/2014/12/29/demise-of-band-among-losses-for-mummers-parade-in-philadelphia/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231013446/http://www.readingeagle.com/ap/article/mummers-famous-trilby-band-is-sidelined-for-philadelphia-parade |archive-date=2015-12-31 |url-status=live}}.</ref> In the early years of the official parade, the makeshift costumes of most celebrants were gradually replaced by more elaborate outfits funded by associations' fund-raising efforts.<ref name="history"/>

The official parade has been cancelled only thrice during its history. One happened in 1919 as a result of the Spanish Flu epidemic when many public events were cancelled; another occurred in 1934 due to the effects of the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] and a lack of prize money; and 2021 on grounds of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

As they assimilated to Philadelphia, many immigrant groups have joined the tradition. Numerous [[Irish people|Irish]] immigrants and [[Irish-American]]s from South Philadelphia became involved in the Mummers Parade as both Mummers performers and parade goers. Other ethnic groups were soon integrated into the parade through the years. [[Italian-American]]s and [[Italian people|Italian]] immigrants to South Philadelphia began to participate in the Mummers Parade in large numbers after [[World War II]].<ref name="pfp2">{{cite web |author=Richard N. Juliani |title=Uses of Tradition: Arts of Italian Americans in Philadelphia |publisher=Philadelphia Folklore Project |year=1992 |url=http://www.folkloreproject.org/programs/exhibits/uses/index.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080106160927/http://www.folkloreproject.org/programs/exhibits/uses/index.cfm |archive-date=January 6, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref> While South Philadelphia (especially [[Pennsport]]) remains one of the most important centers for Mummers traditions and Mummers members, more recent immigrants to the neighborhood from [[Asia]] and [[Latin America]] generally have fewer ties to the parade and tradition.<ref>Hepp, Chris (August 7, 2014). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140808190942/http://articles.philly.com/2014-08-07/news/52519369_1_mummers-parade-fancy-brigades-string-bands "Mummers Parade going south? City mulls big change"]. [[Philadelphia Inquirer]]. Retrieved February 2, 2015.</ref>

While almost all parade participants are currently white, [[African American]] mummers existed in the past. The all African American Golden Eagle Club, formed in 1866, had 300 members in the 1906 parade, for example. Judges systematically discriminated against black clubs, however, and the last, the [[Octavius Catto]] Club, withdrew after receiving last place in the 1929 parade.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Welch|first1=Charles E. Jr. |title="Oh, Dem Golden Slippers": The Philadelphia Mummers Parade|journal=Journal of American Folklore|date=October–December 1966|volume=79|issue=314|pages=523–536|jstor=538218|doi=10.2307/538218}}</ref> The brass bands hired to accompany the Comic Brigades often include black musicians, but do not dress in costume and consider themselves [[session musicians]] rather than Mummers.  By 1964, only one African American mummer, Willis Fluelling, remained.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://citypaper.net/article.php?Why-blackface-still-dogs-the-Mummers-50-years-after-it-was-banned-18176
 |title        = Why blackface still dogs the Mummers 50 years after it was banned
 |last1        = Guendelsberger
 |first1       = Emily
 |publisher    = Philadelphia CityPaper
 |date         = 2013-12-19
 |access-date   = 2017-07-11
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140129143313/http://citypaper.net/article.php?Why-blackface-still-dogs-the-Mummers-50-years-after-it-was-banned-18176
 |archive-date = January 29, 2014
 |url-status      = dead
 |df           = mdy-all
}}</ref> As of 2007, a few of the less traditional clubs, such as [[Spiral Q Puppet Theater]]'s West Philadelphia Mummers Brigade, were integrated.

The comic "wenches" and other female roles in most skits are typically performed by men in drag.<ref name="Mummers on Parade"/> Women were not officially allowed in the parade until the 1970s.<ref name="the word"/><ref name="Mummers on Parade">DeLeon, Clark (Winter 1984/1985). {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020103201322/http://riverfrontmummers.com/mummers/articles/article2.html "Mummers on Parade"]}}.  ''[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]]''.</ref>

The South Philly Vikings ran [[2300 Arena|Viking Hall]] in the 1980s and 1990s, the venue today known as 2300 Arena.<ref name="pwbts.com 2008 l659">{{cite web | last=Magee |first=Bob| title=AS I SEE IT 5/12: 15 years of the ECW Arena | website=pwbts.com | date=May 12, 2008 | url=http://www.pwbts.com/columns/2008/b051208.html | access-date=July 24, 2023}}</ref>

===21st century===
As of 2008, the parade cost the city over $1 million each year, including $750,000 for police and parade services and $360,000 in prize money. The 2008 budget crisis led the city to propose closing numerous libraries and firehouses and the scaling back of expenditures for the parade, offering $300,000 for the 2009 parade and nothing for 2010.<ref name=shortened>"Shortened 2009 Strut?".  ''[[Philadelphia Metro]]''. December 15, 2008.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Cornfield |first=Josh |date=December 15, 2008 |title=Mummers parade details not yet confirmed; changes coming |work=Metro |department=Local |publication-place=Philadelphia, PA |id={{NewsBank text|125193FD01E35A48}}}}</ref><ref>''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]''.  December 29, 2008.  Retrieved December 30, 2008.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jaros |first=John |date=29 Dec 2008 |title=TAX MONEY FOR SPORTS TEAMS BUT NOT LIBRARIES? |work=Philadelphia Daily News |department=THE DAILY VIEWS : LETTERS |location=Philadelphia |page=10 |publication-place=Philadelphia, Pa. |id={{ProQuest|430462472}}.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gambacorta |first=David |date=29 Dec 2008 |title=Who's strutting what this year?: Divisions putting finishing touches on costumes, choreography |work=Philadelphia Daily News |department=FEATURES |pages=28, 29 |publication-place=Philadelphia, Pa. |id=[[Newspapers.com]] [https://philly.newspapers.com/image/198412023/ 198412023], [https://philly.newspapers.com/image/198412109/ 198412109]. {{ProQuest|430457973}}.}}</ref><ref name="dollars" />

After the end of city funding for the parade, the Mummers created the "Save the Mummers Fund" to help cover the additional city fees to paying expenses for police and sanitation services during the event.<ref name=Bacon>{{cite web|author = Bayliss, Kelly| publisher = [[WCAU]] |date=June 17, 2009|url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/around-town/archive/Kevin-Bacon-Wants-to-Save-the-Mummers.html|title=Kevin Bacon Wants To Save the Mummers|access-date= January 3, 2012}}</ref>

Funding for the parade during the first decade of the 2000s was provided for several years by [[Southwest Airlines]], which also took naming rights of the parade, which was called "Southwest Airlines Mummers Parade."  Funding for the 2012 parade was provided by [[SugarHouse Casino]], which renamed the parade to "Sugar House Mummers Parade."<ref>{{cite web|url=  http://www.sugarhousecasino.com/press/read.php?id=74 |title=Sugarhouse Casino Press Release |publisher=Sugarhousecasino.com |access-date= January 11, 2011}}</ref>

In September 2009, [[The Bacon Brothers]] musical duo, composed of Philadelphia natives [[Michael Bacon (musician)|Michael]] and [[Kevin Bacon]], recorded a special version of their song "New Year's Day" with members of the All-Star String Band.<ref>Highsmith, Steve (June 17, 2009).  [http://www.myphl17.com/community/mummers/wphl-strut-talk-son-of-a-mummer,0,4937524.htmlstory "The Mummers and Kevin Bacon{{spaced ndash}}The Bacon Brothers Band Were Joined in a Philadelphia Studio To Record a Version of Their Song, New Year's Day, with Actual Philly Mummers!"]. [[WPHL-TV]].  Retrieved January 3, 2012.</ref> Proceeds from the sale of the CD went to the Save the Mummers Fund.<ref name=Bacon/> Additionally, the duo performed a benefit concert for the parade in December 2009.<ref>Staff (December 5, 2009). [http://www.myphl17.com/wphl-bacon-bothers-mummers-concert,0,6487197.story "Bacon Brothers Mummers Concert{{spaced ndash}}Help Kevin Bacon and the Bacon Brothers Save the Mummers!{{spaced ndash}}Visit www.savethemummers.com To Make a Donation"].  [[WPHL-TV]].  Retrieved January 3, 2012.</ref>