Changes

Up until the 1970s it was commonly thought by those who were influenced by the paganism of 'The Golden Bough' that '''Mumming''' originated from the [[Saturnalia]] festivities of [[ancient Rome]], which arrived in [[Britain]] when the Romans occupied the country.<ref> [http://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=Mummers+in+%22Ancient+Rome%22&source=bl&ots=uSZagAgO7M&sig=NAJtBvqcyLXoVNRpgC7_1jyJu88&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result Google Books] </ref>

Up until the 1970s it was commonly thought by those who were influenced by the paganism of 'The Golden Bough' that '''Mumming''' originated from the [[Saturnalia]] festivities of [[ancient Rome]], which arrived in [[Britain]] when the Romans occupied the country.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&pg=PA81&lpg=PA81&dq=Mummers+in+%22Ancient+Rome%22&source=bl&ots=uSZagAgO7M&sig=NAJtBvqcyLXoVNRpgC7_1jyJu88&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result Google Books]</ref>

Modern research into the origins of Mumming however, has shown that this is a completely untenable notion, principally for the complete and utter absence of anything even remotely resembling a Mumming Play being recorded or even mentioned before the late seventeenth century. It is now considered by all reputable authorities that the overwhelming evidence points to them being plays based on a series of chapbooks performed by men and boys in order to raise money for holidays and festivals or when, if farm workers, they were laid off work in the winter.

Modern research into the origins of Mumming however, has shown that this is a completely untenable notion, principally for the complete and utter absence of anything even remotely resembling a Mumming Play being recorded or even mentioned before the late seventeenth century. It is now considered by all reputable authorities that the overwhelming evidence points to them being plays based on a series of chapbooks performed by men and boys in order to raise money for holidays and festivals or when, if farm workers, they were laid off work in the winter.

   

   

Mentioned in the works of Shakespeare, but only in the context of Mummers being professional actors, the plays are usually performed at around the time of significant church holidays e.g Christmas (St Stephen’s Day Mummers), Easter (Easter Monday Pace Eggers) and All Souls Day (Solecakers) and always involve the death and magical resurrection of one or more of the characters.  

Mentioned in the works of Shakespeare, but only in the context of Mummers being professional actors, the plays are usually performed at around the time of significant church holidays e.g. Christmas (St Stephen’s Day Mummers), Easter (Easter Monday Pace Eggers) and All Souls Day (Solecakers) and always involve the death and magical resurrection of one or more of the characters.  

A typical Mummers Play will have characters such as:

A typical Mummers Play will have characters such as: