Mummers are groups of actors who perform traditional plays. These plays, which are part of English folklore, were performed in several parts of England, and also in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, generally at Christmas. Mummers performed in the outdoors or in private homes. They danced and sang through towns and villages, typically wearing masks and colorful costumes. Some mummers were dressed as animals.
Most mummers’ plays were about the battle of Saint George with a Turkish knight. After the death of one of the combatants in a sword fight, a doctor would restore the victim to life. The names of the characters varied, and the dialogue could be almost nonsensical. Characters introduced themselves with such lines as the following:
I am Saint George, this noble knight, Come from foreign lands to fight.
Mummers were especially widespread during the 1500’s and 1600’s. Some authorities believe that the plays developed from pre-Christian ritual practices connected with the birth of spring and the death of winter. Others believe that they portray Christian redemption. Mummers’ plays are still performed in the United Kingdom during the Christmas season.
