Editing Mummers Parade (section)

== History ==

Mummering traditions arrived in Philadelphia with Swedish, Finnish, British, and German immigrants who brought customs of disguised visiting and performance during the Christmas season. By the nineteenth century, groups of costumed revelers roamed South Philadelphia neighborhoods on New Year's Day, visiting homes and taverns. The practice was sometimes rowdy and occasionally violent, leading to periodic bans that proved unenforceable.<ref name="mummers"/>

The first official parade took place in 1901, with the city recognizing and organizing what had been informal neighborhood celebrations. This formalization brought structure—designated route, judging, prizes—while preserving the participatory, working-class character. The parade became associated particularly with South Philadelphia's white ethnic communities, especially Italian and Irish neighborhoods.<ref name="mummers"/>

The parade has evolved through the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, with changing costumes, music, and participation patterns. Controversies over blackface performances, gender exclusion (string bands were all-male until recent years), and other issues have prompted changes while generating conflict between reformers and traditionalists. The parade reflects Philadelphia's broader struggles with identity, tradition, and change.<ref name="mummers"/>