A mummery, also known as a mummer’s play, is a folk play. Many mummeries include pantomime, which includes allegorical plots and characters based on folklore and mythology. Mumming is an ancient practice that can still be seen today in many parts of the world, usually at historical revivals and special occasions. Depending on the character one plays, performing in a mummery requires no special skills, and some people enjoy participating in this form of folk art as a way of celebrating their culture and heritage.
Mumming is thought to have originated in England during the Middle Ages and spread from there to other parts of Europe, according to historical evidence. Early mummeries were entirely pantomime-based, and the mummers frequently wore masks and other disguises, hence the term “guisers” to refer to mummery performers.
Mummers performed at fairs, in front of monarchs during various royal progresses, and in court, and they traveled from home to home putting on their performances on special occasions. Some monarchs, such as Henry VIII, enjoyed the ability to disguise themselves for a night performing in mummeries.
Mummeries often include themes of good and evil, with loyal knights bravely fighting invaders and other representatives of evil, in addition to figures from folktales. Many mummeries have a touch of the mystical, with a powerful sorcerer or doctor who can bring a slain hero back to life. The theme of resurrection was popular in mummeries in the past, and in many cases, the resurrected character represented the monarch or nation, triumphing over evil and growing stronger as a result.
A mummery’s story is frequently exaggerated and heavily staged, and mummeries have often contained veiled political commentary in the past. It would have been easy to embed commentary in seemingly harmless fun in an era when social codes were complex, and mummeries were used to criticize regimes or directly target specific rulers.
Mummers today wear vintage costumes and may wear masks or face paint, or they may go bare-faced. They march in parades, and on special occasions, they may resurrect the practice of mumming in the streets, going from house to house. Mummery is particularly alive and well in Britain, where it has been practiced for hundreds of years, and it has also been preserved in some former colonies.