Mummers Cut Their South Broad Street Roots

(First in a Series of Three Stories)

BY MARIA MERLINO/ We got a good cultural shock this week when it was announced the 114th Mummer’s Day Parade would not parade through the heart of South Philly, but instead would go widdershins (translation: going backwards) on us and begin on 15th & Market streets in front of Dilworth Plaza and end at Washington Avenue, normally the parade’s pit stop.

Mummers marching in South Philadelphia is a long tradition that traces its roots to the time of William Penn, when the ungoverned group of early settlers carried on the tradition of Boxing Day, or Second Christmas, by visiting neighbors and having a few cocktails. Philadelphia tried to outlaw these gatherings in the 1800s when they grew riotous, but soon realized it was better to join them. By 1901, the first official Mummers Parade was celebrated on Broad Street.

Its roots to the time of William Penn, when the ungoverned group of early settlers carried on the tradition of Boxing Day, or Second Christmas, by visiting neighbors and having a few cocktails. Philadelphia tried to outlaw these gatherings in the 1800s when they grew riotous, but soon realized it was better to join them. By 1901, the first official Mummers Parade was celebrated on Broad Street.

IT WAS Congressman Bob Brady who ensured Mummers Parade would survive financial costs imposed on it by City, raising funds and garnering support of business community so it could continue tradition of marching up Broad Street. But now Mummers have, by their own choosing, tweaked New Year’s Mummers Parade enough to have it parade outside S. Phila. At previous Mummers parade are SugarHouse’s Wendy Hamilton, Congressman Brady and Mayor Michael Nutter.

Gone is the tradition that saw these groups march north from Hog Island up S. Broad Street firing guns and rifles into the air, earning the name “Shooters”. Then came costumes, and organization, and music – evolving into what should be considered one of America’s legendary national folk events.

It draws thousands of out-of-towners to our hotels in Center City.

Why this major decision to cut its roots from South Philadelphia?

Here are some of the reasons the parade leaders mouth off:

Because it’s our fault for not coming out in droves and watching the passing parade; because it’s Methodist’s Hospital’s fault for not putting up the grandstand anymore; because it’s the changing demographics of immigration.

They don’t blame the fact in the City’s anxiety to save police and sanitation and other department overtime, it has cut the timing of the parade. They don’t blame the fact television broadcasting has resulted in almost half-hour gaps between the marching groups. Instead of marching, dancing and playing music up Broad Street, they quickly jam up into waiting and waiting, often in bitter cold weather – unhappy blocks of performers impatiently waiting for an OK to move on. Everything moves to the beat of the telecasts.

Peter Zutter, President of the South Broad Street Association, saw the writing on the wall. “It is unfortunate that it is no longer the daylong celebration that it once was, but things change,” he said.  “It is sad to lose the whole parade, though.  It looks like money and the cost of the parade have finally caught up and outweigh the old traditions.

“On the other hand, it is a slow-moving parade with too much waiting. Ideas on a fix are only the same ones that have already been tried: faster pace and shorter route. I guess the shorter route is what cut us out! If it was done in three to four hours instead of eight or nine, it would work a lot better and might even attract the crowds that used to come.”

Another board member, Greg Damis, has fond memories of the parade. “My wife Melody and I will miss having the parade pass our home on S. Broad Street. Ten years ago we purchased our home and threw a Mummers party before we had a chance to move in. It’s been fun introducing family and friends to the Mummers. Many of them are Philly-born and-raised but didn’t attend the parade. This year we are already getting calls asking if we will have another celebration. It’s a shame the tradition will not be carried on.”

Leo Dignam, Deputy Commissioner for Programs, said the change in route started back in March when the four heads of the parade asked for a meeting.

Mummers strut down the street in full decorative attire.

“There was always a performance at Broad & Shunk Streets,” he began. “Then, three years ago, no business would allow us to put bleachers on the sidewalk. We had to move them to the school down the street. And we heard complaints.”

He elaborated, “The Mummers are changing with the times. It’s not that the parade has never had the route changed. During the Rendell administration, the parade was moved to Market Street. He felt the hotels would have a good economic impact. But it went back to Broad Street. The string bands want to protect tradition, but their philosophy is that Mummery is the tradition, not the route it takes. The parade is for the people that come down and celebrate, not for the people in the parade. We have the world’s record on the most hours for a parade, more than eight hours! We have the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country and we can keep that on time to two hours. We can do that with all parades, but not the Mummers.”

An argument that is heard over and over is that the demographics have changed and recent immigrants don’t care about the parade. This is a false argument, because in the 1940s Italian immigrants embraced the parade and had Italian American clubs. This insular mentality needs to be open-minded. True, the Mummers don’t proselytize, but ladies and gentleman, we have Mexican and Asian groups that would be perfect for the parade.

Dignam said, “Back in the day, when there were spontaneous performances in front of crowds, it was usually the family and friends of the marchers.” If the families that live east and west of Broad Street don’t care, it’s because they are not involved. Let’s get more inclusion if we want to keep the parade as a neighborhood event.

EVEN Mayor Nutter tried learning famous Mummers’ Strut. He will do so again in Center City.

The route was hammered out last week. What’s going to happen is that the groups will be judged at 15th & Market, lining up on Market Street, JFK and the Parkway. The Fancies go first, since they only have one mother club. Next up are the Comics with their three mother clubs, Murray, Goodtimers and Landi. Murray also has a brigade. Third is the Wench Brigade (most-famous of all, Froggy Carr). Last are the String Bands. Afterwards, the option is to march south on Broad Street to Washington Avenue.

The fifth element, The Fancy Brigades, will do a nooner at the Convention Center, then come out and march to Washington Avenue. They’ll regroup for the 5 p.m. show at the Convention Center, where they will be judged and taped for the 8 p.m. television audience.

As far as the 2 Street “Unofficial Parade”, that is no fun for the people who live there with the free-for-all attitude. Councilman Mark Squilla is putting some plans in action to tame the rowdies, I’m told.

“Yes, there is risk,” says Dignam. “But also there is a reward: the survival of the Mummers. We will have seating areas, and have licensed vendors, shops restaurants and bakeries that will be open and the economic impact will be positive. It will be a more-condensed parade but with a crowd that is not subjected to cold, boring, empty stretches.”

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