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New Year's Day: Watch The Philadelphia Mummers Parade Live Or On TV

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Preferred

If you have lived in the Philadelphia Metropolitan area (or Delaware Valley region) for any length of time, you know that every New Year's Day, the City of Philadelphia is host to the Philadelphia Mummers New Year's Day Parade, celebrating it's 102nd year.

Mummers.com - New Years Parade

This tradition involving Mummers is unique to the area.   I know of nothing like it anywhere else.   It is considered by some to be the most authentic folk festival in the United States. Their sight and sound are distinctive.  Adults in elaborate customes march and strut through Philadelphia streets, many while playing instruments, to entertain us and welcome in the new year. 

If you don't know about Mummers, then you owe it to yourself to check out the resources included below. 

If you can not be one of the hundreds of thousands that regularly make it into the city each year to watch the parade, you can catch it on local TV 17 (MyPhl17).  Their coverage begins at 8am.  Also check out the MyPhl17 web site as they have a section dedicated to the history of the Mummers and videos from past parades and Mummer events.

In addition to local coverage provided by MyPhl17, four hour coverage of the Mummers Parade can also be seen nationally on Superstation WGN (Direct TV channel 307 and Dish Network channel 239) beginning at 2pm EST on New Year's Day MyPhl17's sister station, Boston's WLVI.


Here are resources to learn more about the Mummers:
Mummers.com - information about the parade, history, FAQ's, links to more resources.
Philly17 (MyPhl17) - special section dedicated history and information about the Mummers with videos.
PhillyMummers.com - history overview of the Mummers.
MummersTime Magazine - Mummer News (you will also hear a short music clip of the traditional sound)
String Band Archives - historical records, photos, music, videos.
Mummer Museum - paraphernalia and memorabilia.
RiverFront Mummers NYA - web site of one of the mummers brigades, FAQ's, learn what a "wench" is.
Strut! The Movie - It's a parade, but you've never seen a parade like this before!
Kings For A Day! - National Geographic feature story about the Mummers


Click here for related blog articles about the Mummers.



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Copyright 2007 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved

Comments(5)

D B
Quakertown, PA
e-PRO, Realtor - Bucks County PA - 610-952-3578

Hey Lawrence.  Good information on our Mummers Parade.  I have seen it in person in the past, mostly on TV as we always take down the tree on New Years Day.

Happy New Year 2008!

Dec 31, 2007 02:39 AM
Daniel J. Brudnok, REALTOR
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Fox & Roach, REALTORS - Exton - PA License #RS-225179-L / Delaware License #RS-0025038 - Downingtown, PA
SRES, e-PRO,ABR,GREEN,CSP

Lawrence,

It will be on my TV tomorrow...Happy New Year

Dec 31, 2007 08:43 AM
Cyndee Haydon
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
727-710-8035 Clearwater, Beach Short Sales Luxury Condos &Homes
Lawrence - my family lives in the Philly area and we used to live in West Chester PA - we love the Mummer's parade - brings back memories. Happy New Year.
Jan 01, 2008 02:42 AM
Anonymous
Bea Westermann
Tuned in to watch my favorite part, the string bands but they never got on before the live programming ended. 
Jan 01, 2008 09:11 AM
#4
Anonymous
Cindy

The Mummer's Parade is the best in the country!  The music is so crisp and clear you can't keep your feet still while watching in on t.v. and in person it makes you move your whole body.  The costumes are bright and shiny, they simply never fail to impress!  It unites the people with themes that are fresh in everybody's memory, giving you a true sense of community.  Spirits bless The Mummer's, they ROCK!

 

Jan 01, 2009 02:45 AM
#5