About this episode

This episode explores the tradition of Christmas mumming, its historical roots, and its evolution over time.

Picture masked figures appearing at your door on a dark winter's evening, their faces hidden behind soot and disguise, ready to perform ancient rituals of death and resurrection. This is mumming, a tradition stretching back centuries. From medieval Europe to its journey across the Atlantic to its dramatic transformation in modern Philadelphia, this episode brings you the story of Christmas mumming and how folk traditions are constantly remade. Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieb...

People in this episode

Host: Corinne Wieben

Topics covered

• mumming
• Christmas traditions
• folk traditions
• death and resurrection rituals
• cultural transformation

Keywords

• mumming
• Christmas
• folk traditions
• rituals
• medieval Europe
• Philadelphia
• cultural history

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Philadelphia, medieval Europe

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