The Mummers Prance
It was quite the odd sight, clusters of people dressed like jesters, or prancing devil, or one group were in badly done Lyran dance costumes, all dancing, running about, making noise or music (well, the music was mostly noise), all on the day after the New Year's Birth. It is quite sobering. I should know. I was there staring out at it from my inn window. I soon got dressed, moved myself slowly downstairs, and made "sophisticated and urbane sounding inquires" (which were neither thanks to the amount of mead the previous night) of the Inn Keeper. He who told me all about this mad tradition of his city's while I had bread and beer for breakfast. Baldius and the Trader's Way Blue Press 1524
The history of the Mummer's Prance goes back nearly three hundred years, when the first way of Pordin immigrants made the rounds of their friends and neighbors after Yule, banging on pots and pans to scare away demons. This was one of their old Pordin heathen traditions, prettied up some as not to offend their new city's dominant faith.
As the city grew, and the tides of invasion/ counter-invasion and immigrants/ refugees, ebbed and flowed, other people's traditions began spicing the mix, and before long, the day after The New Year Birth, began to look like Greble, Halloween, or some other madman's holiday. Parties of costumed folk would go door to door, sing, dancing, banging metal on metal, and calling for cake and strong drink. The city has a strong injunction against certain things on the City Ledger, but since the City Watch often joins some of the festivities, there is a wink to the sly about their enforcement (except in flagrant cases).
The word "mummer" comes from the Gaulian word momer - "to wear a mask" which describes most people on the streets and many in snowy garden parties in The City. Like Flag Teams in Petordan or Krewes of the Southern Cities, the Mummers Clubs called Rounds work all year to get ready for the big day, sewing costumes, arranging music and dance steps, and preparing themes and props.
In addition to ward (neighborhood) celebrations, there is a city wide one, where The Prance - The greatest of all parades at least according to the locals - weaves and bobs across the city.
Tradition groups The Rounds into four divisions. The Comics, decked out in rat tag costumes, continue the ancient traditions of clowning and lampoon. (Some say, it is just an excuse to start imbibing around sunrise. The Comics might do that, but it is only to keep warm they say). Next in The Prance comes The Fancy Rounds. Dressed in elaborate costumes that match their floats, they entertain the crowd with dance and song. Following them are the Notable Rounds. They will play some during The Prance. These musical groups will take up stations around the city and entertain folk all day long. Lastly prances The Speakers. Their floats show scenes from classic, not so classic, tales. Sometimes they will act out scenes, or entire plays, on their floats during The Prance. Most of the time, they sit there and wave. The Speakers will disembark from The Prance and go to their prepared stages. There they will give performances for the rest of the day and into the night. (Note: The ban on plays outside the hours proscribed by the city is one of the things the Watch, and even most of the clergy, winks at).
The Prance leads the folks into a true celebration of the New Year. (To be honest, this city's celebration of The New Year's Birth is quite tame to an outside observer, mostly because people know The Mummer's Prance will be cavorting the next day.
Not Registered Yet? No problem.
Do you want Strolenati super powers? Registering. That's how you get super powers! These are just a couple powers you receive with more to come as you participate.
- Upvote and give XP to encourage useful comments.
- Work on submissions in private or flag them for assistance.
- Earn XP and gain levels that give you more site abilities (super powers).
- You should register. All your friends are doing it!
? Responses (4)
So it's a fantasy take on Halloween then? What are the other non Prodin elements that have come to influence it?
Well, one was hoping that a GM would take the Prodin place holder, and insert any number of peoples/cultures FROM THEIR OWN WORLD/SETTING. I could give you a few dozen examples, but then you would probably not have analogs for your world. So unless you rewrite your entire world (and this section of it) to match this example, it is mostly work not need.
Happy new year to them.