I don't know if anyone was aware of this, but on alias day, we were actually participating in a variation of an ancient tradition called Mumming. We even got the timing just right!

 

Although I've never experienced it myself, I became aware of it (in part thanks to Loreena McKennit) in the form of the Newfoundland tradition, which I understand was brought over from Ireland. From Wikipedia:

 

"The province of Newfoundland and Labrador, in Canada, has a two-hundred-year long tradition of Mummering or Janneying between Christmas and January 6 (Twelfth Day). In complete disguise the Mummers go from house to house to entertain and socialize. Often men dress as outsized women, but no one is supposed to be recognizable."

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers

 

I'm curious- Does anyone else from around the world have any local traditions like this?

Well, I suppose trick-or-treating would fall under this...

 

Kids getting in costume and getting candy. Woo!

Well, I suppose trick-or-treating would fall under this...

 

Kids getting in costume and getting candy. Woo!

 

Well Halloween may share some origins at some point- it would be an interesting thing to research, but it's actually a bit different.

 

As I understand it, ADULTS visit their neighbours in disguise during the Christmas season, and the whole point is to guess who the visitors are, much like we did today.

Yeah, that's what I thought...

 

And I suddenly imagined some of the men I know from my town dressing up as "out-sized women" and I got scared. Very scared.

Simular to Mardi Gras which begins on Twelfth Night and ends on the day before Lent begins. People dress in costumes which allows them to make drunken fools of themselves and still maintain their standing in the community. :laugh3: Since the people that settled Louisiana were peeps tossed out of Nova Scotia, Canada by the British, I can see where the influence comes from.

Great observation, Erin. I wonder if Nik knew that when he put this together!

 

If anyone hasn't heard 'The Mummer's Dance', the Loreena McKennit song Erin's talking about, it's a really great song!:D

 

EDIT:I have it if anyone wants to hear it.

I was born in Newfoundland...WOOOOOOOO

I was born in Philly. :D

 

 

OMG Around New Years Philly has the Mummers Parade...and there's actually a Mummers Museum!! What a coincidence!! :D

Great observation, Erin. I wonder if Nik knew that when he put this together!

 

If anyone hasn't heard 'The Mummer's Dance', the Loreena McKennit song Erin's talking about, it's a really great song!:D

 

EDIT:I have it if anyone wants to hear it.

 

There's actually a video for that song, if anyone wants to see her take on some rather freaky looking mummers. It's the weird radio remix of the song, though, the album one is way better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCiDm8H1ggU

 

Are you a fan of hers Tracie? I got my dad her new cd for christmas and it blew my mind!

 

I was born in Newfoundland...WOOOOOOOO

 

I was tempted to tell a snide newfie joke but decided against it. :P Besides... newfies are cool.

Thats pretty eerie considering Nik could have thought this up at any time of year.

Thats pretty eerie considering Nik could have thought this up at any time of year.

There's actually a video for that song' date=' if anyone wants to see her take on some rather freaky looking mummers. It's the weird radio remix of the song, though, the album one is way better. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCiDm8H1ggU

 

Are you a fan of hers Tracie? I got my dad her new cd for christmas and it blew my mind!

 

 

 

I was tempted to tell a snide newfie joke but decided against it. :P Besides... newfies are cool.

 

Yeah, I'm a HUGE fan of hers...she's from a town called Guelph, Ontario, which is pretty close to Kingston, so she used to play here alot when she first started out. Also, she started as a busker...same as me!

 

As for Newfie Jokes, the only reason you shouldn't tell them is that Newfie's tell them better,lol!:lol:

 

Hey, Briggins! What do you think of a Newfie Joke thread,lol?!?

 

Here''s the original version a la mp3. http://www.sendspace.com/file/i7nwu7

Yeah' date=' I'm a HUGE fan of hers...she's from a town called Guelph, Ontario, which is pretty close to Kingston, so she used to play here alot when she first started out. Also, she started as a busker...same as me![/quote']

 

You've seen her live? LUCKY! I looove her music. I wanted to learn how to play the harp for years because of her... still do, actually.

 

It's so inspiring and visual- it's what I always listen to when I'm painting or doing various creative things. Not to mention all of the poetry she brings to life- that's probably part of the reason I'm studying English now.

 

As for Newfie Jokes, the only reason you shouldn't tell them is that Newfie's tell them better,lol!:lol:

 

Too true.

 

:thinking: Actually come to think of it, most of the best Newfie jokes I've heard have been told by Cape Bretoners- that doesn't count. :confused:

Hey, Briggins! What do you think of a Newfie Joke thread,lol?!?

 

 

 

Haha I think that moosie started one here at some point, I can't remember.

I had a friend from Cape Breton who used to tell Newfie jokes...but he'd always mess them up and get the punchlines wrong,lol!:lol:

 

I'll have to look for Moosie's thread...I rpobably have a few to add!

 

Q: Why do Newfies need a 4th grade education?

A: So they can go to University in Quebec!:P

 

Uh-oh...are there any Quebecers on the board?? *runs from forum waving Quebec flag*

If there are I'm sure they'll hunt you down and yell for seperation!

I had a friend from Cape Breton who used to tell Newfie jokes...but he'd always mess them up and get the punchlines wrong,lol!:lol:

 

quote]

 

I find them just as hard to understand....and I couldn't find the newfie joke thread last night, maybe I started one. I'll loook again.

Newfie jokes:

 

http://www.coldplaying.com/forum/showthread.php?t=30880