On New Year's Day, Philadelphians do one of two things: Watch the Mummer's Parade or do everything possible to avoid watching the Mummer's Parade. In our house, we do both.
Since we were incapacitated by influenza this year, I finally won the Mummer's viewing battle. We watched...or at least I watched. My husband stayed at a safe distance and made the occasional snide comment. It's amazing how every January 1, we suddenly turn into James Carville and Mary Matalin.
It's difficult to explain the Mummers to a non-Philadelphian. Essentially, a bunch of working stiffs, dress up in sequins and put on a 10-hour parade. It's as if the Teamsters borrowed costumes from all the Broadway musicals and walked the New York City Marathon.
The Parade consists of four parts: Comics, Fancy, Fancy Brigade and, my favorite, String Band.
To give you an idea of how some of those 10-plus hours are filled, here's a You Tube clip of the Ferko String Band performing in the 2007 parade.
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1 comment:
Yes! I have missed the 'Bummers Day Parade' ever since I left Philly! The only way to watch it is on TV.
I loved the 'Teamsters-B'Way costumes-marathon' take. Perfect. I've been trying for years to explain it to people in the Midwest.
Rick
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