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Nov 5 2009

Mummers 101: The Scoop On Philly's New Year's Day Tradition

Tips For Watching 10,000 Men And Women Twirl, Sashay & Strut Up Broad Street

New Year’s Day is about celebrating, and there’s no better place to fete than at the Philadelphia’s Mummers Parade, a 110-year-old tradition in which 10,000 men and women dressed in colorfully lavish costumes twirl, sashay, pirouette and strut up one of the city’s main streets. An unforgettably wild ritual, the parade and subsequent performances are all family friendly, yet exciting enough to entertain everybody. While a carnival-like atmosphere welcomes anyone who decides to stop by at the last minute, a little advance preparation guarantees a clear view. Better still, spending the night in the city ensures an early start to the day. Hotel packages are available at gophila.com.

Who?:
Mummers are men and women of all ages who belong to more than 40 social clubs that make up the organization. The clubs, split into five divisions—Comics, Wench Brigades, Fancies, String Bands and Fancy Brigades—function mainly to stage their playful performances on New Year’s Day. But Mummers do perform at other events throughout the year, and for many Philadelphia-area families, Mummery is a tradition that spans generations.

What?:
The day’s highlight is the parade itself, which begins in South Philadelphia in the morning and winds its way up Broad Street to City Hall about six hours later. Each division knows its role: the Comics and Wench Brigades satirize issues, institutions and people; the Fancies impress with their glamorous outfits that rival those of royalty; the String Bands gleefully play banjoes, saxophones and percussion instruments; and the Fancy Brigades produce tightly choreographed theatrical extravaganzas. But the noisy camaraderie shouldn’t fool the novice spectator, as each club is embroiled in a friendly yet fierce competition for local bragging rights.

After they’ve displayed their floats, costumes, dances and music, the Comics, Fancies and String Bands head down to 2nd Street (or Two Street as it’s affectionately known) to spend the rest of the day and night in hearty revelry with the crowds that follow them there. But there’s more work ahead for members of the Fancy Brigades, who put on two elaborate Broadway-style performances for ticket holders at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in the afternoon.

Where?:
First things first: spectators are encouraged to leave their cars behind and take public transportation into the city. Those who drive should park in a garage. One of the best places to view the spectacle is from the judging stands outside City Hall, but tickets must be reserved in advance. (See below.) For sidewalk seating, arrive early and set up near a drill location, where marching String Bands perform. These spots occasionally change year-to-year, but are usually at the intersections of Broad Street and the following streets: Sansom (Union League), Washington, Wolf/Ritner (Methodist Hospital) and Shunk. If there’s no space there, another option is to watch from a staging area: Broad Street and Washington Avenue (Comics, 11:00 a.m.), Broad Street and Snyder Avenue (Fancies, 12:00 noon), Broad Street and Oregon Avenue (String Bands, 1:00 p.m.). Fancy Brigades start at Oregon Avenue in the mid-afternoon but only get as far as Washington Avenue, where they get on buses and head for the convention center. (Tip: Because each division starts at a different intersection, the only non-ticketed place to watch all of them is on Broad Street and Washington Avenue.)

When?:
The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends sometime before 6:00 p.m. Fancy Brigades hold two ticketed competitions at the Pennsylvania Convention Center—the first at 12:00 noon and the second at 5:00 p.m. (See below for ticket information.) The revelry then moves to Two Street for a party that goes well into the early morning hours.

Why?:
Mummery traces its roots to ancient Roman laborers who ushered in the festival of Saturnalia by marching in masks while exchanging gifts and satirizing the issues of the day. In the 1600s, Swedish settlers to Philadelphia’s outskirts honored Christmas by beseeching their neighbors for dessert and liquor by dressing up, chanting and shooting firearms. The party eventually migrated to New Year’s Day and evolved into a series of neighborhood parades; then, as immigrants moved to the area from Ireland and Italy, each group added their own cultural flair to the local customs. In 1901, the tradition began in earnest with the first recognized and judged Mummers Parade. The term “Mummer” is German and means “to costume or masquerade.”

How?:
Tickets for bleacher seating at City Hall (15th & Market Streets) are available at the Independence Visitor Center (6th & Market Streets, (215) 965-7676) for $19.00. Tickets to both Fancy Brigade Finales can be purchased online for $12-$17 at comcasttix.com.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

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Tagged: Events, Family-friendly, Holidays, Winter

Attached Media

Mummers Parade on New Year's Day

Mummers Parade on New Year's Day

The wacky and colorful Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day distinguishes Philadelphia’s New Year celebration from all others. During the day-long celebration, 15,000 elaborately costumed clowns, musicians and dancers strut up Broad Street, leaving a trail of glitter, feathers and fun. (Tip: Because each division starts at a different intersection,...

Tags: Events, Family-friendly, Holidays, Winter

Mummers Parade

Mummers Parade

The Philadelphia Mummers strut up Broad Street during the country’s oldest folk parade. The day-long extravaganza, featuring colorful costumes and toe-tapping music, is a Philadelphia New Year’s Day tradition not to be missed....

Credit: Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

Tags: Events, Family-friendly, Holidays, Winter

Mummers Parade

Mummers Parade

The Philadelphia Mummers strut up Broad Street during the country’s oldest folk parade. The day-long extravaganza, featuring colorful costumes and toe-tapping music, is a Philadelphia New Year’s Day tradition not to be missed....

Credit: Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

Tags: Events, Family-friendly, Holidays, Winter

Mummers Parade

Mummers Parade

The Philadelphia Mummers strut up Broad Street during the country’s oldest folk parade. The day-long extravaganza, featuring colorful costumes and toe-tapping music, is a Philadelphia New Year’s Day tradition not to be missed....

Credit: Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC

Tags: Events, Family-friendly, Holidays, Winter