Mummers

2009 Photographs

Mummers were once a common site in Newfoundland, especially in the more isolated outports.  Christmas revellers would disguise themselves with old clothing, covering their faces with a hood, scarf or mask and go from house to house sometime during the twelve nights of Christmas. They would entertain their hosts with humorous antics and often play music. Hosts would offer them drinks and treats and try to guess their identity.

This was fine in small communties where the mummers could only be friends and neighbors.  City folk could not trust masked intruders. The custom was outlawed in 1861 but continued into the past century in much of Newfoundland.  

This past Christmas a Mummers Festival was organized in St. John's.  It included a parade that finished at The Rooms with a concert.  These photographs were taken there.