Extravagant as Ever, the Mummers Are Philadelphia’s

Jan 7, 2025

My Grandmother was born and raised in South Philadelphia.

Each New Year’s Day, she and the family would make a pot of soup and sit out on the back porch to watch The Mummers.

To her father, it was watching the New Year’s Shooters. When my grandpop came along— while courting her from North Philadelphia—I never understood the tradition.

If you are watching the Mummer’s Parade from anywhere across America from anywhere outside of Philadelphia — then you might think — what in the world is this?

PHOTO: Philadelphia Mummers Parade/Facebook

The winners of last week’s New Year’s Day Mummers Parade are in the books — and it was another year of great competition. In the String Band Division, there was a tie between South Philadelphia and Quaker City. It was a historic year again — the first time in the modern era that the String Band Division had a tie for first place.

Officially, the oldest, continuous folk parade has been a Philadelphia tradition since 1901. Unofficially, it is much more historic than that. The Mummers’ official song, The unofficial traditional theme song of the Mummers is “Oh Dem Golden Slippers,” composed by James Bland in 1879, was introduced to the Mummers around 1905 by Charles Dumont.

Like many great pieces of world history in America, the formation of the Mummers began many centuries ago — dating back to the time of the ancient Egyptians. The word Mummer’s itself or mommer or Momus — is derived from Greek Mythology, Old English, and French. Its roots even go back to 400 B.C. for the Roman Feast of Saturnalia — where the Romans would honor their God Saturn. To celebrate the harvest, they would bring gifts to close friends around the time of the New Year.

Back in Philadelphia in the 1600s — Swede and Finnish immigrants helped to sow the seeds of the Mummer’s Traditions when they introduced “Second Christmas” to the Tinicum section of the City.

It wouldn’t be long before this tradition went right through New Year’s Day.

And then there are our friends, the British. Their contribution was a 1778 fancy farewell party called “Mischianza” for Lord Sir William Howe — recalled to England and replaced during the American Revolutionary War — including a parade whose inspirations are seen in today’s celebration. George Washington — living in Philadelphia as the first President of the United States — contributed to the lore by greeting friends annually right before New Year’s Day.

In the time of my Great-Grandfather — the festivities were attributed to the New Year’s Shooters and Mummers Association. Each year to this day — Philadelphia officials warn about firing guns into the air for New Year’s as, alas, what goes up must come down.

The first Mummer’s Parade was officially on New Year’s Day 1901. The first string band was formed in 1898. Trilby String Band would parade from 1902-2014. Mummer’s String Bands serenade Market and Broad Streets each New Year’s with a musical combination of Glockenspiels, Violins, Accordions, Saxophones, and Banjos, among others.

My grandmom would carry the importance of the Mummers all of her life.

As a senior citizen — my relatives would take her to Philadelphia to see the Parade annually during her last years. Predictably, Grandpop stayed at home.