Mummering

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Christmas Bread

1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup butter
2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 pkgs. dry yeast
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. caraway seeds
6 cups flour
1 cup currants
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped citron

Combine boiling water, butter, salt and 1/2 cup sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved and butter is melted, and cool to lukewarm. Dissolve 1 tsp. sugar in 1/2 cup lukewarm water. Sprinkle in yeast and let stand 10 minutes. Stir well. Add to cooled mixture. Stir in eggs, spices and half of flour. Beat with a spoon until smooth. Add enough of remaining flour to make a soft but not sticky dough. Turn out on floured board and knead until smooth. Knead in fruit. Put in greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until double, 1 - 1/2 hours. Punch down. Knead again a few times. Divide dough in two and shape into two round loaves. Put on greased cooking sheets. (Or shape into two regular loaves and put in greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pans.) Let rise in a warm place until double. Heat oven to 400*F and bake 10 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350*F and bake 50 minutes. Pour glaze (recipe follows) over loaves while still warm, and let it run down sides of loaves. Decorate with candied cherries and citron if desired.

Glaze

3/4 cup sifted icing sugar
1/4 tsp. almond or rum flavouring
2 tbsp. hot milk

Blend together and pour over warm bread, letting run down sides.

Mummering involves dressing in disguise, masks and music. Masks are usually comical rather than scary, so as not to frighten the youngsters. All mummers usually drink a Christmas "grog", such as rum or whiskey. Cake, fruit and candy are served by the host, and mummerers have been known to pocket these goodies in well-to-do homes in order to play a belated Santa Claus among children of the poorer households. ( The Newfie folk share amongst each other like nobody else and nobody goes without so long as a neighbor has something to spare) 

Painting by Danielle Loranger

The Mummers Song

guitar tabs below ( 2 sets).

Don't seem like Christmas if the Mummers aren't here
Granny would say as she'd sit in her chair
Things have gone modern, I 'spose that's the cause
Christmas is not like it was

(knock, knock, knock) Any Mummers 'lowed in?

Hark what's the noise, out by the porch door
Granny 'tis mummers theres 20 or more
Her old weathered face lightens up with a grin
Any Mummers nice Mummers 'lowed in?

Come in lovely Mummers don't bother the snow
We can wipe up the water sure after you go
Sit if you can or on some Mummer's knee
Lets see of we know who ya be

There's big ones 'n tall ones 'n small ones 'n thin
Boys dressed as women and girls dressed as men
Humps on their backs an mitts on their feet
My blessed we'll die with the heat

There's only one there I think that I know
That tall feller standing o'er long side the stove
He's shakin' his fist for to make me not tell
Must be Billy from out on the hill

Now that one's a stranger if there ever was one.
With his underwear stuffed and his trap door undone.
Is he wearin' his mother's big 42 bra.?
I knows but I'm not gonna say.

Don't 'spose you fine Mummers will turn down a drop
No home brew, nor alchy whatever you got
Now the one with his rubber boots on the wrong feet
He's had enough for to do him a week

'Spose you can dance, yes they all nods their heads
They've been tappin' their feet ever since they came in
Now that the drinks have been all passed around
The Mummers are plankin' her down

Hold on to the lamp and be careful the stove
Don't swing Granny hard for you know that she's old
No need for to care how you buckles the floor
'Cause Mummers have danced here before

My God how hot is it, we better go
I 'low we'll all get the devil's own cold
Good night and good Christmas, Mummers me dears
Please god we will see you next year.

{G}Don't seem like Christmas if the Mummers aren't here
{C}Granny would {G}say as she'd {A}sit in her {D}chair
{G}Things have gone modern, I 'spose that's the cause
{C}Christmas is {D}not like it {G}was

{knock, knock, knock} Any Mummers 'lowed in?

{G}Hark what's the noise, out by the porch {G7}door
{C}Granny 'tis {G}mummers theres {A7}20 or {D}more
Her {G}old weathered face lightens up with a{G7} grin
Any {C}Mummers nice {D7}Mummers 'lowed {G}in?

Come in lovely Mummers don't bother the snow
We can wipe up the water sure after you go
Sit if you can or on some Mummer's knee
Lets see of we know who ya be

{D}There's big ones 'n small ones 'n {G} tall ones 'n thin
{A7}Boys dressed as women and {D7}girls dressed as men
{G}Humps on their backs an mitts on their feet{G7}
My {C}blessed we'll {D7}die with the {G}heat

Alternate tabs

Don't seem like Christmas if the Mummers aren't here
Granny would say as she'd sit in her chair
Things have gone modern, I 'spose that's the cause
Christmas is not like it was

{knock, knock, knock} Any Mummers 'lowed in?

{C}Hark what's the noise, out by the porch door
{F}Granny 'tis {C}mummers theres {D}20 or more
Her {C}old weathered face lightens up with a grin
Any {F}Mummers nice {G}Mummers 'lowed {C}in?

{C}Come in lovely Mummers don't bother the snow
We can {F}wipe up the {C}water sure {D}after you {G}go
{C}Sit if you can or on some Mummer's knee
Lets {F}see of we {G}know who ya {C}be

There's {G}big ones 'n tall ones 'n {C}small ones 'n thin
{D}Boys dressed as women and {G}girls dressed as men
{C}Humps on their backs an mitts on their feet
My {F}blessed we'll {G}die with the {C}heat

There's {C}only one there I think that I know
That {F}tall feller {C}standing o'er long{D}side the {G}stove
He's {C}shakin' his fist for to make me not tell
Must be {F}Billy from out on the {C}hill

Now {C}that one's a stranger if there ever was one.
With his {F}underwear {C}stuffed and his {D}trap door un{G}done.
Is he {C}wearin' his mother's big 42 bra.?
I {F}knows but I'm {G}not gonna {C}say.

Don't {G}'spose you fine Mummers will {C}turn down a drop
No {D}home brew, nor alchy what{G}ever you got
Now the {C}one with his rubber boots on the wrong feet
He's had {F}enough for to {G}do him a {C}week

{C}'Spose you can dance, yes they all nods their heads
They've been {F}tappin' their {C}feet ever {D}since they came {G}in
{C}Now that the drinks have been all passed around
The {F}Mummers are {G}plankin' her {C}down

Hold {C}on to the lamp and be careful the stove
Don't {F}swing Granny {C}hard for you {D}know that she's {G}old
No {C}need for to care how you buckles the floor
'Cause {F}Mummers have {G}danced here {C}before

My {G}God how hot is it, {C}we better go
I {D}'low we'll all get the {G}devil's own cold
Good{C}night and good Christmas, Mummers me dears
Please {F}god we will {G}see you next {C}year.

The Mummer's Song
The Poor Old Horse

Traditional Yorkshire Ballad For Mummerers to entertian

The singer of this song is dressed as an old horse, and at the end of every verse the jaws are snapped in chorus. The 'old horse' is, probably, of Scandinavian origin, a reminiscence of Odin's Sleipnor.

It's half past midnight on Christmas Eve
The Newfies are celebrating with their jigs
But through the front door walks a man in red
And through his beard this is what he said

Did you ever see Santa do the Newfie jig
At half past midnight on Christmas Eve
Rudolph comes in with a step or two
And Mr. Claus says this is what you do

You take one step forward and two steps back
A Newfie tradition and it's a fact
They say it's traditional on Christmas Eve
When Santa Claus does a Newfie jig

And mother was there and some mummers too
The scrooge didn't like it but he stepped a tune
They say it was a Christmas merry cade(?)
If you ask the Newfie this is what he'll say

Did you ever see Santa do the Newfie jig
At half past midnight on Christmas Eve
Rudolph comes in with a step of two
And Mr. Clause says this is what you do

You take one step forward and two steps back
A Newfie tradition and its a fact
They say it's traditional on Christmas eve
When Santa Clause does a Newfie jig

And mother was there and some mummers too
The scrooge didn't like it but he stepped a tune
They say it was a Christmas merry cade(?)
If you ask the Newfie this is what he'll say
If you ask a Newfie this is what he'll say

####....Jerome Cole....####

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Notes On Guitar Tabs:
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All guitar tabs have been contributed by visitors to this site and represent
their interpretation of the tune. I am unable to verify their accuracy.

{D} It's half past midnight on {A} Christmas Eve
The Newfies are celebrating with {D} their jigs
But through the front door walks {G} a man in red
{D} And through his beard this is {A} what he {D} said

{D} Did you ever see Santa {A} do the Newfie jig
{A} At half past midnight on {D} Christmas Eve
Rudolph comes in with a {G} step or two
And {D} Mr. Claus says {A} this is what {D} you do

{D} You take one step forward and {A} two steps back
A Newfie tradition and it's a {D} fact
They say it's traditional on {G} Christmas Eve
{D} When Santa Claus does a {A} Newfie {D} jig

{G} And mother was there and some mummers {D} too
{A} The scrooge didn't like it {D} but he stepped a tune
{G} They say it was a Christmas {D} merry cade(?)
If you ask the Newfie this {A} is what he'll {D} say

{D} Did you ever see Santa do the {A} Newfie jig
{A} At half past midnight on {D} Christmas Eve
Rudolph comes in with a {G} step of two
And {D} Mr. Clause says this is {A} what you {D} do

{D} You take one step forward and {A} two steps back
A Newfie tradition and its {D} a fact
They say it's traditional on {G} Christmas eve
When {D} Santa Clause does a {A} Newfie {D} jig

{G} And mother was there and some mummers {D} too
{A} The scrooge didn't like it {D} but he stepped a tune
{G} They say it was a Christmas {D} merry cade(?)
If you ask the Newfie this {A} is what he'll {D} say
If you ask a Newfie this {A} is what he'll {D} say

 

The Yule Log

In Newfoundland there is a custom of burning a yule log. The log
or 'back junk' was cut before Christmas and at sunset on Christmas
Eve was placed at the back of the hearth. A blaze was taken from
the burning log at midnight on Christmas Eve and thrown over the
house to protect it form the danger of fire throughout the coming year

The mummer's play was enacted in the kitchens of many outport homes in the days of early settlement and well into the nineteenth century. The play was brought over from the Old Country by our early ancestors. It's an old play whose characters, setting, and theme have mythical origins. It was a good form of entertainment and highlighted the general theme of the old year dying and a new year beginning.

Soldiers acting at Christmas

Father Christmas
Here comes I, old Father Christmas, welcome or welcome not,
I hope old Father Christmas will never be forgot;
Here comes I old Johnny Jack, my wife and family on my back,
My wife so big and my children so small,
Takes more than a crumb of bread to feed them all,
And if you don't believe these works I say, step in
King George and boldly declare thy way.

King George
Here comes I, King George, from old England I did spring,
Some of my victorious works I am going to bring;
I fought the fiery dragon, I brought him to the slaughter,
And by those very means I'll win fair Zebra, King
of Egypt's daughter.
And if you don't believe these words I say, step in King
of Egypt and boldly declare thy way.

King of Egypt
Here comes I, the King of Egypt, in uniform do appear;
King George, King George, thy comrade is here;
He is a man of courage bold, I am his armour-bearer
To cut down his enemies if there are any of them here.
And if you don't believe these words I say, step in
Valiant Soldier and boldly declare thy way.

Valiant Soldier
Here comes I, the Valiant Soldier, Slasher is my name,
Sword and pistol by side, I hope to end the game,
One of my brothers I saw wounded, the other I saw slain,
And by those very means I'll fight King George all on
the plain [takes a step.].

Valiant Soldier
Turk, Turk, come with speed, help in my time of need,
Thy time of need I do implore, I was never in such need before.

Turkish Knight
Here comes I, the Turkish Knight, come from the Turkish land to fight;
I'll fight King George with courage bold, if his blood is hot I'll make
it cold.

King George again
Who thou that speak so bold?

Turkish Knight
Haul out thy purse and pay for satisfaction I will have before I go away.

King George
No satisfaction thou shan't get, while I have strength to stand,
For I don't care for no Turk stands on this English land.

[They cross swords and both say]
You and I the battle try, if you conquer I will die.

Turkish Knight
I am cut down but not quite dead,
It is only the pain lies in my head,
If I once on my two legs stood,
I'd fight King George to my knees in blood.

King George
On the ground thou dost lie, and the truth I'll tell to thee,
That if thou dost but rise again thy butcher I will be.

Turkish Knight
Come, Valiant Soldier, be quick and smart,
And with my sword I will pierce King George's heart.

[Turkish Knight on his feet again, and continues]
I do not care for thee, King George, although thou art a champion
bold,
I never saw that Englishman yet could make my blood run cold.

King George
You Turkish dog, King George is here, happy for another hour to come,
I'll cut thee and I'll hew thee, I am bound to let thee know,
I am bold King George from England before I let thee go.

[The two together with crossed swords]
You and I the battle try, if you conquer I will die.
[King George falls to the floor.]

Turkish Knight
Now the battle I have won, thank God I am free,
And if that man do rise again his butcher I will be.

King George
[King George rises from the floor and strikes the Turk.]
I suppose you thought that I was dead, but yet alive remain,
And go tell the doctor the Turkishman is slain.

Father Christmas and the Doctor
Doctor, doctor, come with speed,
Help me in my time of need,
My time of need I do implore,
I was never in such need before.

[Father Christmas then tries to revive the Turk himself, but with no success.
He says]
Is there a doctor to be found
Can heal thy son of his deadly wound?

Father Christmas
What is thy fee?

Doctor
Fifty guineas is my fee, but if the money is paid down,
I will do it for ten pond [pound].

Father Christmas
What can you cure?

Doctor
I can cure the hits, fits, palsy and the gout,
If there is any evil spirit in this man I can sure drive it out.

Father Christmas
What kind of medicine have you got?

Doctor
I have a little bit of hare's grease and mare's grease,
The wig of a weasel and the wool of a frog,
And twenty-four ounces of September fog.

Father Christmas
Where do you rub all this stuff?

Doctor
I rub a little to his temple, and a little to the crack-bone of his heart,
Arise, arise, bold champion, and boldly act thy part;
Arise, arise my lofty man, I long to see you stand,
Open you eyes and look about, I will take you by the hand.
[The man comes to his feet.]

Pickedy Wick
Here comes I, Pickedy Wick, put my hand in my pocket and pay what
I thinks fit;
Ladies and gentlemen, sit down to their ease,
Put their hands in their pockets and pay what they please,
And if you don't believe those words I say, step in
Beelzebub and boldly clear thy way.

Beelzebub
Here comes I, Beelzebub, under my arm I carries my club;
In my hand I keeps my pan, I thinks myself a jolly fine man.
Money I wants, money I crave, and money I'll have to
carry me to my grave.
And if you don't believe those words I say, step in
bold Hercules and boldly clear thy way.

Jack Tar
Here comes I, Jack Tar, just returned from sea, sir,
With the shines on my breast, and what do you think of me, sir?
I am a brisk young sailor and always on the sea,
And now I am home, my hereos, I am full of life and glee;
The battle will soon be over and now we will sing one song,
And we will cheer our heardy comrades as we gladly march along.

[All the company then form into a ring, with Father Christmas in the centre,
and they sing the following ditty]

The pig and the bug and the bumble-bee,
There is one more river to cross;
The pig and the bug and the bumble-bee,
There is one more river to cross.
One more river and that's the river of Jordan,
One more river, there is one more river to cross.

(The End)