NFLD-ROOTS-L Archives

From: Myron <>
Subject: Re: [NFLD-ROOTS] RAG - Carbonear Sent. 1840, Mar. CONNELL-TRACY
Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2000 15:54:44 -0230

JBalen1234,

Jac> (My question: What is a Mummer?)
from Dictionary of Newfoundland English

mummer v O Sup2 ~ v (1884; Nfld: 1964-). To participate in various group activities
of disguised persons during Christmas; esp in phr go mummering; JANNY v.
1901 Christmas Bells 11 At night they went 'mummering,' or had a dance.
[1904] 1968 Nfld Qtly Christmas, p. 28 Christmas night ushered in a gay social
season, which continued until January 6th. During that time many of the grownups
went 'jannying' or 'mummering' every night. 1905 DUNCAN 136 ... when the lads
and maids decked themselves out in fantastic fashion and went mummering from
cottage to cottage at Christmas tide. M 65-1 We mummered from Saint Stephen's
Day which is December 26 until the 12th day which we called Old Christmas Day
(Jan 6). Everyone, old and young, mummered. 1967 Bk of Nfld iv, 236 After a
non-stop day outdoors we would dress-up at night and go mummering (or mumming).





Best regards,
Myron

http://Traytown.homestead.com

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• [NFLD-ROOTS] RAG - Carbonear Sent. 1840, Mar. CONNELL-TRACY by <>

  • Re: [NFLD-ROOTS] RAG - Carbonear Sent. 1840, Mar. CONNELL-TRACY by Myron <>