A Philly-style New Year's parade
Members of the Jolly Jolly Comics New Years Brigade march in the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, Friday, Jan. 1, 2010. Credit: AP Photo/
If you've never seen a Mummers Parade - Philadelphia's raucously flamboyant public display of affectation to usher in the new year on Jan. 1 - you have no idea what you're missing.
To be sure, there is nothing quiet about the Mummers, whose name comes from the German word for "mask" and whose parade is a conglomeration of spirited Celtic and Scandinavian New Year's traditions.
The 109th edition of the city's marathon masquerade steps out onto South Broad Street at 8:50 a.m. By the time it's all over - around 7 p.m. - over 10,000 amateur (but hardly amateurish) musicians and entertainers will have made the 3-mile journey to City Hall, bedecked in the most extravagant costumes this side of Carnival.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE
First up is the Comic Division, in which troupes of garishly dressed clowns parody, satirize or otherwise have fun with current events or public figures. Having the most fun themselves are clearly the parasol-twirling, pigtailed male "wench brigades" performing the Mummers Strut, a high-stepping, arms akimbo alternation of bowing and prancing to the tune of "Oh! Dem Golden Slippers," the official Mummers Parade anthem written by Philadelphia native James Bland.
Next comes the significantly more refined Fancy Division, characterized by fantastic sequined and feathered costumes, many so large they need to be transported on personal "floats."
The Fancies are followed by the String Bands, a Philadelphia institution comprised of eight instruments: accordions, saxophones, clarinets, violins, banjos, bass fiddles, glockenspiels and drums. Dressed in elaborately themed costumes and led by an invariably over-the-top captain, the string bands are as much show as blow with their choreographed, Broadway-style mini-revues.
UNDER COVER
Until 1997, the string bands were followed by the Fancy Brigades - coordinated Fancies that perform dazzling Vegas-inspired extravaganzas with special effects and pyrotechnics. Since then, the Fancies have taken their show indoors to the Philadelphia Convention Center (shows at noon and 5 p.m., $12-$17, 800-298-4200, ComcastTIX.com).
Also at the Convention Center for those who arrive in town early is the MummersFest, an interactive, family-oriented, behind-the-scenes look at mumming in general, including the opportunity to watch Fancy Brigades rehearsals. The event runs Dec. 28-31, tickets are $4 at the door.
