Breaking: 2020 Mummers Day Parade Perspective

Philadelphia kicked off 2020 on New Year's Day with the 120th year of the “Mummers Day” parade in downtown Philly. The parade featured thousands of 'Mummers' dressed in exotic and wonderful homemade costumes, and the Mummer groups took to the parade route with pride and smiles all around.

The Mummers Parade is held each New Year's Day in Philadelphia and is believed to be the oldest folk festival in the United States. The first official date of the parade dating back to 1901, although 'non-official' versions were held a hundred years earlier.
For the parade, numerous local clubs (called "New Years Associations") compete in one of five categories: Comics, Wench Brigades, Fancies, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades. The participants prepare elaborate costumes, performance routines and create movable scenery, which take months to complete. This prep-work is done in clubhouses – many of which are on or near 2nd Street (called "Two Street" by local residents in the Pennsport neighborhood of the city's South Philadelphia section). The clubhouses also serve as social gathering places for members during the year.

Swedes and Finns, who were the first European colonists in the Philadelphia area, brought the custom of visiting neighbors on "Second Day Christmas" (December 26) with them to Tinicum. This was soon extended through New Year's Day with costumed celebrants loudly parading through the city. They appointed a "speech director", who performed a special dance with a traditional rhyme:

“Here we stand before your door,

As we stood the year before,
Give us whiskey; give us gin,
Open the door and let us in,
Or give us something nice and hot
Like a steaming hot bowl of pepper pot!"

As we spent a little time with the Uptown String Band and Bob Haywood, it quickly became clear what the draw is to becoming a Mummer, with each group celebrating their own unique contribution.

As thousands of Mummers marched down from City Hall, the crowd swelled, and chants of “Go Eagles” could be heard throughout the streets. One thing is for sure – Philly is a football City that loves the Eagles and loves parades. The parade felt like Mardi Gras but in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia.

In 2020, there were very good groups that stole the show with great costumes and brilliant choreographed performances.
But as in the past, this year's Mummers' Parade wasn't without controversy. One of the Froggy Carr Wench Brigade members wore unsanctioned black-face during the parade. This was done every year in the parade's history until the early 1960s when civil rights crusaders got up in arms about the practice. But in 2020, to say that the act was insulting and insensitive and that the people responsible should be banished is an understatement.

CNN affiliate KYW interviewed two of the men in blackface who said they were dressed as Philadelphia Flyers' mascot 'Gritty,' which is the group's theme.

"It has nothing to do about being racist to the black person or the white person or the yellow person. Whatever. It's our tradition," one man told KYW.
When asked why wear blackface, another man told KYW, "Cause I like it ... Why not?"
CNN has not been able to reach the men in KYW's video.
Mayor Kenney said in a tweet on Wednesday the use of blackface was "abhorrent and unacceptable."
"This selfish, hateful behavior has no place in the Mummers, or the city itself. We must be better than this. The group was disqualified and we will be exploring additional penalties," Kenney said.
One thing is clear: The Mummers Parade needs a face-lift and new guidance. A great step forward would be to send the Philadelphia Recreation Department in charge of events, Leo Dignam packing . This is a guy who hides under the city umbrella and hand picks press that favors the city's ideology. That is not okay.
To Mr. Dignam, we in the press say: Parades,and events that take place in Philly are not your personal events. Outside press have grown tired of your arrogant attitude. Getting rid of you in all press events would be welcome.

But regardless of the thoughtless actions of a few, Philadelphia residents are too smart to cast a wide net to catch a few dead fish. @ News 1