2006 Mummers Parade
Published by bsweger January 2nd, 2006 in arts, philadelphia, wtf?
After logging ten years in Philly and the surrounding ‘burbs, I finally dragged my caffeinated self down to Broad Street and the annual New Years Day Mummers Parade, where men wear sequined feathers and open container laws take a holiday break. After walking South from City Hall, cold and without drink, some familiar faces at Broad and Tasker were a welcome sight. Their apartment was like a beautiful oasis stocked with cheese, chili, and beer.
Mummers are a great way to test out a new Christmas camera, and there are more shots on Flickr. Happy 2006!
Hey, I was at a party at Broad and Reed. If I’d seen you wander past, you would have consumed drinks and food a couple blocks earlier. Hope you had fun, it’s a strange parade. Way too many breaks in the action. Happy New Year!
Yeah, it was fun, but you’re right–too many breaks (is that so people can go back to their cars for refills)? The only part I didn’t like were the groups with no instruments. Just costumed people walking up Broad Street to disco music and bad eighties songs. Not even marching, just walking. That’s not proper parade protocol!
Next year someone should build a nifty interactive, Web 2.0 map of Mummers parties, complete with folksonomies and tagging, so people know where to stop for refreshments.
What are folksonomies, and how can they lead me to refreshments?
Stu Bykofsky has some ideas in today’s column about ways to make the mummers more exciting and parade-y for people all along Broad.
I noticed that the book that you are currently reading is “The Angle of Darkness” by Caleb Carr, great book. I think that the first one, “The Alienist”, was just a little bit better.
Enjoy…
Another one to read in that genre is “The List of 7″ by Mark Frost.
(Sorry, no Mummers comment…I am not fond of them.)
Type E, here is some info about folksonomies. Apparently folksonomies can do everything, so I’m sure they can lead you to refreshments.
Raul, thanks for the suggestions. I finished up Angel of Darkness recently and liked it overall–very entertaining, even though the ending was a bit over the top (that whole thing with Roosevelt?). Did the Mummers scare you as a child?
No…I just think that it is a sad attempt to be like Carnaval in Rio.
Last comment was mine.
Sheesh, Raul, you’re a bitter, bitter man! Not everyone can afford to go to Rio, you know!
I never been there…I can’t afford it either. My dad is from there and told me stories that he probably shouldn’t have. To me it is like being given a choice between Pabst Blue Ribbon ($.50) and Sam Adams Utopias ($100). I can’t afford Sam Adams but I am not going to buy Pabst either.
And yes, I am a bitter, bitter man.
The Mummers Parade has been around longer then most of you and will be there when you all including me dies. Don’t mock it until you understand it. The meaning that it has to the families that attend as well as join is unknown to most. Each year walking down 2nd street reminds me of the family members who are not there to join me, due to death or illness. It is my way of remembering my family and what my grandparents believed in, such as an open house, anyone one cold and in need of food walked right in, Family the entire clan who go to my grandparents house to watch the parade and walk on second. Since life becomes busy and we distance ourself from what ever reason from each other, isn’t good that people come together once more.
I agree. You people should be ashamed of mocking the Southwest Airlines presents the Mummers Parade.
Could someone help me find information on the “Show of Shows” usually held some time in February? I would like to attend but I do not know where or when.
I Love You Guys! Shows are great.
Thanks, Bonnie Mays