Mumming.

Mumming is an old folk custom of English origin, though it is also found in Ireland and a few other places like Newfoundland where Engish folk customs have persisted or been adopted.

This short play is the Ancient Winter Drama of Death and Rebirth, where our Chrismas Champions Saint George and (usually) the dark Turkish Knight battle. One will fall dead, but be brought back to life by 3 drops of medicine from a Doctor's magical bottle. This is the core of most Mummer's Plays, though supernumenary characters vary. Our play is of the Southern English type, and is thus introduced by Father Christmas and features a Johnny Jack-with-his-family-on-his-back character, though ours is called Blue Vinney after a Dorset Cheese traditionally eaten with Dorset Knobs. Our Hobby Horse Knobbin is accompanied by a Groom along the lines of the Cheshire Soul-Caking plays. Other plays may feature a Beelzebub, Devil Dout, a Molly or sundry other characters...

Though the mystical symbolism is not lost on us, a bunch of Pagans, we try to respect the traditional character of the play and not rewrite it to reflect any dogma. We have compiled a script from several versions of the play, adding a few contemporary references to make it entertaining and relevant. You can see our script from 2006/7 here, or 2007/8 here, or see our photos on Flickr. Even though a typical Mummer's play is closer to panto than to any religious rite, there is a definite spiritual energy to each part, and being a Mummer can be something of a calling, an opportunity to connect with Land, Tradition and our Ancestors.

Mumming's origins lie hidden in the mists of time, if you are really interested follow the links on our links page. Suffice it to say that the Mummers Play has been performed in more or less its present form for at least 250 years.

Some of its key features, such as the use of slapstick, disguise and a structure of related monologues can be traced in Old English Pantomime. Panto itself descended from Commedia del 'Arte and ultimately the classical Pagan theatre of Greece and the folk theatre of Rome and the Etruscans.

Broadside Ballads, Shakespearean era theatre, and literary sources all contributed characters and fragments of dialogue.

Christmas visiting customs (Guising- going around to peoples houses in disguise), Guild and Religious Processions, other folk customs such as the Sword Dance and the Morris Dance, the 'Jake of Lent', Wren Hunting and more have also had an influence, contributing a performance context- the Christmas visit, the disguise of tatters, and the dances that the play often includes.

All of these High Arts and Folk Arts seem to combine in the sixteenth or seventeenth centuries to become what we now recognise as the Mummer's Play.

Knobbin the 'Oss