♫ Claire ♫
The Thameside Mummers - Fool
The Locks Inn, Geldeston.
Beltane / May Day celebrations 2009.
Fool enjoys some of the fantastic beers on offer!
Mummers were once found in nearly every village in England. Together with mystery and miracle plays they are survivors of folk drama. Mummers plays were originally part of the old fertility rites performed in mid-winter and the May Day festivals to bring back life to the world.
Mummers plays usually take the form of a combat between the hero and villain, in which the hero is killed and brought to life, often by a quack doctor.
Usually each character introduces him or herself by the formula 'In comes I!'. For example:
"In comes I Beelzebub".
There is a panoply of characters (how many probably depends on the numbers of players, although there is sometimes 'doubling up'), including Fool, St George, Bold Slasher, Father Christmas, Beelzebub, etc.
Mumming plays can be traced back at least to the middle ages and were a traditional part of Christmas at the court of Edward III, as shown in a 14th Century manuscript, now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
These plays, happening around Easter, All Saints Day and Christmas are variously known as 'pace-egging', 'souling' and 'mumming'. Many involve the blacking of faces to conceal their identity and the wearing of fantastic costumes. Most take the form of rhyming couplets, some have songs or dances and most are very entertaining to watch.
The Thameside Mummers - Fool
The Locks Inn, Geldeston.
Beltane / May Day celebrations 2009.
Fool enjoys some of the fantastic beers on offer!
Mummers were once found in nearly every village in England. Together with mystery and miracle plays they are survivors of folk drama. Mummers plays were originally part of the old fertility rites performed in mid-winter and the May Day festivals to bring back life to the world.
Mummers plays usually take the form of a combat between the hero and villain, in which the hero is killed and brought to life, often by a quack doctor.
Usually each character introduces him or herself by the formula 'In comes I!'. For example:
"In comes I Beelzebub".
There is a panoply of characters (how many probably depends on the numbers of players, although there is sometimes 'doubling up'), including Fool, St George, Bold Slasher, Father Christmas, Beelzebub, etc.
Mumming plays can be traced back at least to the middle ages and were a traditional part of Christmas at the court of Edward III, as shown in a 14th Century manuscript, now in the Bodleian Library, Oxford.
These plays, happening around Easter, All Saints Day and Christmas are variously known as 'pace-egging', 'souling' and 'mumming'. Many involve the blacking of faces to conceal their identity and the wearing of fantastic costumes. Most take the form of rhyming couplets, some have songs or dances and most are very entertaining to watch.