Mummer's Day
Encyclopedia
Mummer's Day, or "Darkie Day" as it is sometimes known, is an ancient Cornish
midwinter celebration
that occurs every year on Boxing Day
and New Year's Day
in Padstow
, Cornwall
. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated all over Cornwall where people would guise dance
and disguise themselves by blackening up their faces or wearing masks. It was in contrast to the 'white' summer festivals of Cornish towns such as Padstow
, Helston
and Penzance
( See 'Obby 'Oss festival
). Recently the people of Penzance
have revived its midwinter celebration with the Montol Festival
which like Padstow at times would have had people darkening or painting their skin to disguise themselves as well as masking.
some people have wrongly speculated that the event originated from freedoms being given to the occupants of passing slave ships which stopped in the port to allow slaves a bit of free time and space in the town. Padstow was known as the "free space." This is what is now celebrated with music and songs for all to enjoy. Once an unknown local charity event, the day has recently become controversial, perhaps since a description was published. Also some now suggest it is racist for white people to "black up" for any reason. Although some "outsiders" have linked the day with racism, Padstonians insist that this is not the case and deny both description and allegations.
have taken video evidence twice and concluded there were no grounds for prosecution. Nonetheless protests resurface annually. The day has now been renamed Mummer's day in an attempt to avoid offence and identify it more clearly with established British tradition. The debate has now been subject to academic scrutiny. It is hoped that some of the more untraditional 'Minstrel
songs that were incorporated in favour of traditional Cornish
songs will soon be discontinued.,
and the blacked up minstrel craze which ultimately created huge stars such as Al Jolson
, in particular the works of American song writer Stephen Foster
feature. Either as a result of confusion as to the real origins of disguise in the festival or as a way of introducing popular tunes, these songs became associated with the darkening and disguise practices of Padstow. The likely original tunes being the well preserved and still performed Padstow carols.
However, other researchers claim that Darkie Day and the spirituals sung by followers of Blue 'Oss in advance of Mayday originate in the groundswell of support for American black people that was extremely strong in areas of the UK where Methodism was predominant. Amongst other events, this led to the Manchester textile workers voting to refuse to make uniforms for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Minstrel songs and spirituals were performed to gain support for American black people, and the "blacking up" of traditional mumming adapted to show this support. What was seen as support in the 19th century has become somewhat offensive in the 21st.
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
midwinter celebration
Winter solstice
Winter solstice may refer to:* Winter solstice, astronomical event* Winter Solstice , former band* Winter Solstice: North , seasonal songs* Winter Solstice , 2005 American film...
that occurs every year on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
and New Year's Day
New Year's Day
New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...
in Padstow
Padstow
Padstow is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately five miles northwest of Wadebridge, ten miles northwest of Bodmin and ten miles northeast of Newquay...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated all over Cornwall where people would guise dance
Guise Dancing
Guise dancing is a folk practice celebrated between Christmas Day and Twelfth Night in Cornwall, UK...
and disguise themselves by blackening up their faces or wearing masks. It was in contrast to the 'white' summer festivals of Cornish towns such as Padstow
Padstow
Padstow is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately five miles northwest of Wadebridge, ten miles northwest of Bodmin and ten miles northeast of Newquay...
, Helston
Helston
Helston is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated at the northern end of the Lizard Peninsula approximately 12 miles east of Penzance and nine miles southwest of Falmouth. Helston is the most southerly town in the UK and is around further south than...
and Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
( See 'Obby 'Oss festival
'Obby 'Oss festival
Padstow, in Cornwall, UK is internationally famous for its traditional Obby 'Oss day . Held annually on May Day , which in Cornwall, largely dates back to the Celtic Beltane, the day celebrates the coming of Summer....
). Recently the people of Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
have revived its midwinter celebration with the Montol Festival
Montol Festival
The Montol Festival is an annual heritage, arts and community festival in Penzance, Cornwall held between the 16th and 22nd of December each year. The festival is a revival or reinterpretation of many of the traditional Cornish midwinter customs & Christmas traditions formerly practiced in and...
which like Padstow at times would have had people darkening or painting their skin to disguise themselves as well as masking.
Darkie Parties
Throughout the 19th century especially in the east of Cornwall Darkie Parties were common Christmas celebrations held in Cornish homes and public houses. People would have performed traditional Cornish and other seasonal music and seasonal folk drama such as Mummers plays .Controversy over Mummer's Day
While the original celebration had no connection with slaves, coal boats or black peopleBlack people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
some people have wrongly speculated that the event originated from freedoms being given to the occupants of passing slave ships which stopped in the port to allow slaves a bit of free time and space in the town. Padstow was known as the "free space." This is what is now celebrated with music and songs for all to enjoy. Once an unknown local charity event, the day has recently become controversial, perhaps since a description was published. Also some now suggest it is racist for white people to "black up" for any reason. Although some "outsiders" have linked the day with racism, Padstonians insist that this is not the case and deny both description and allegations.
1970s review
Long before the controversy Charlie Bate, noted Padstow folk advocate, recounted that in the 1970s the content and conduct of the day were carefully reviewed to avoid potential offence. The Devon and Cornwall ConstabularyDevon and Cornwall Constabulary
Devon and Cornwall Police, formerly Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the counties of Devon and Cornwall in England and the unitary authorities of Plymouth, Torbay and the Isles of Scilly....
have taken video evidence twice and concluded there were no grounds for prosecution. Nonetheless protests resurface annually. The day has now been renamed Mummer's day in an attempt to avoid offence and identify it more clearly with established British tradition. The debate has now been subject to academic scrutiny. It is hoped that some of the more untraditional 'Minstrel
Minstrel
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories of distant places or of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty...
songs that were incorporated in favour of traditional Cornish
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
songs will soon be discontinued.,
Minstrel songs
From the canon of Minstrel songs within the current practice it can be seen that they owe their origins to late 19th and early 20th century JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and the blacked up minstrel craze which ultimately created huge stars such as Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
, in particular the works of American song writer Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster
Stephen Collins Foster , known as the "father of American music", was the pre-eminent songwriter in the United States of the 19th century...
feature. Either as a result of confusion as to the real origins of disguise in the festival or as a way of introducing popular tunes, these songs became associated with the darkening and disguise practices of Padstow. The likely original tunes being the well preserved and still performed Padstow carols.
However, other researchers claim that Darkie Day and the spirituals sung by followers of Blue 'Oss in advance of Mayday originate in the groundswell of support for American black people that was extremely strong in areas of the UK where Methodism was predominant. Amongst other events, this led to the Manchester textile workers voting to refuse to make uniforms for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War. Minstrel songs and spirituals were performed to gain support for American black people, and the "blacking up" of traditional mumming adapted to show this support. What was seen as support in the 19th century has become somewhat offensive in the 21st.