A History of Mummery
The Philadelphia New Years Day Mummers Parade is a tradition of the city that dates back to pre-Colonial times, making it the oldest folk parade in the United States. The parade originates from a blend of Irish, Swedish, Finnish, English, German, and other European heritages. This great celebration of the new year takes place on the 1st of January, every year in Center City.
H. Bart McHugh, a Philadelphia theatrical producer and publishing agent, is credited with the idea of having the city organize and sponsor the parade. Before his influence, the "Mummers" were clubs of costumed musicians and non-musicians who would parade in South Philadelphia to celebrate the new year. Now, the city-sponsored New Year's Day spectacular starts at 5th and Market Streets and travels east to City Hall. This seems to be the new controversial, yet possibly permanent home for the parade after one hundred years on Broad Street.
The parade is divided into four categories: Comic, Fancy, String Band and Fancy Brigade. Each category consists of separate organizations that compete for prize money, but mostly for bragging rights, until the next year's parade. The parade starts in the early morning and usually lasts well into the night. At the end of the parade route, all of organizations perform at City Hall in front of the judges (except the Fancy Brigades, who do their presentations in the Convention Center), as well as hundreds of people in the stands and millions of people watching on television.
The String Band Division is often considered the most unique part of the parade. The combination of bright, colorful costumes, live music (featuring banjos, saxophones, accordions, glockenspiels, bass fiddles and drums), as well as strutting and dancing, provides for a one-of-a-kind experience.
