Cheltenham Mummers 2009 - Part 1

Cheltenham Mummers, Boxing Day 2009 at the Seven Tuns in Chedworth, Gloucestershire performing a faithful rendition of their Traditional Mummers Play.

As collected in Longborough, near Stowe-on-the-Wold by Mr. R. J. Tiddy in 1880 and yearly performed by the company for over a quarter of a century.

SEE - the Spectacle of good Prince George brought down by the wicked Turkey Champion
MARVEL - at the doctor performing his wondrous art
ROAR - with laughter at the antics of the other characters
SMILE - as the company are brought together again in Health and Harmony

MUMMERS PLAYS are an ancient country tradition, and symbolise the death of the old year and the start of the new one. They were part of village life, particularly on the Cotswolds, until about 1850, and more or less died out completely after the 1914-18 war. Each village had its own slightly different version of the play, though there was always a 'hero' who was 'killed' by a 'baddy' and then revived by a 'doctor'. The names of the main characters are from the time of the Crusades, with one or two exceptions, notably 'Beelzebub', whose character has several intriguing links to Celtic deity.

Mummers were traditionally drawn from the day labourers of the village, who blacked their faces to avoid being recognised by potential employers, as Mummers http://www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk/pub/view/Seven-Tuns-GL54-4AEwere not renowned for their sobriety. The Cheltenham Mummers see no reason to dispense with part of the tradition.

SEASONS GREETINGS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

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Entertainment

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• mummers
• cotswolds
• cheltenham
• traditional
• christmas