View source for Mummer's Day

{{Short description|Midwinter celebration in Cornwall, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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{{original research|date=February 2016}}
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'''Mummer's Day''', or "Darkie Day" as it is sometimes known (a corruption of the original ''Darking Day''), is a traditional [[Cornish people|Cornish]] [[Winter solstice|midwinter celebration]] that occurs every year on [[Boxing Day]] and [[New Year's Day]] in [[Padstow]], [[Cornwall]]. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated throughout Cornwall where people would take part in the traditional custom of [[guise dancing]], which involves disguising themselves by painting their faces black or wearing masks.

The dark face paint, masks and dark clothing are symbols of the celebration of the [[winter solstice]], and is in contrast to the "white" [[summer solstice]] festivals of Cornish towns such as the [['Obby 'Oss festival]] in [[Padstow]] and the [[Golowan Festival]] which started in [[Penzance]] in 1991. The [[Montol Festival]] in Penzance which started in 2007 is a modern recreation of a winter solstice celebration, during which people guise dance with darkly painted skin or masks to disguise themselves.

There has been controversy in the British media regarding Mummer's Day, due to the blackened faces and the term ''Darkie Day'', with commentators interpreting the festival as racist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06yr6vh |title=BBC Radio 4 - The Untold, Darkie Day: Michael and the Mummers |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2016-02-22 |accessdate=2021-02-25}}</ref> The name ''Darkie Day'' is actually a corruption of the original ''Darking Day'', which refers to the "darking" (darkening) of the faces.

==Darkie/Darking Parties==
Throughout the 19th century, especially in the east of Cornwall, Darkie Parties (originally Darking Parties) were common Christmas celebrations held in Cornish homes and public houses.  People would have performed traditional Cornish and other seasonal music and seasonal folk drama such as [[Mummers]] plays.<ref>Courtney, M. A. (1890), ''Folklore and Legends of Cornwall''.</ref>
"Blacking up" was also a way of preventing the labourer's Lords and Masters from recognizing who they were. Having a good time and enjoyment was frowned upon and not seen to be "God-fearing".

==Controversy over Mummer's Day==
Once an unknown local charity event, the day has recently seen controversy due to increased media coverage.<ref>Richard Savill, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1484332/Blacking-up-festival-goers-face-police-race-inquiry.html "'Blacking up' festival-goers face police race inquiry"], ''[[Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', 25 February 2005.</ref><ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/cornwall/police-race-inquiry-could-end-cornish-darkie-day-zjblsvhtlhd "Police race inquiry could end Cornish Darkie Day"], ''[[The Times]]'', 25 February 2005.</ref><ref>Nicholas Milton, [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/dec/31/race "Offensive – or just harmless fun?"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 31 December 2008.</ref> While the original celebration had no connection with [[black people]], in modern times, it is usually considered racist for white people to "black up" for any reason.<ref>Leo Benedictus, [https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,,1981661,00.html "Way out West"], ''The Guardian'', 3 January 2007.</ref> Although some commentators have linked the day with racism, Padstonians insist that this is not the case and deny both the description and the allegations.

===1970s review===
Long before the controversy, Charlie Bate, a noted Padstow folk advocate, recounted that in the 1970s the content and conduct of the day were carefully reviewed to avoid potential offence.<ref>M. O'Connor, ''Ilow Kernow 3'' (St Ervan, 2005), p. 27.</ref> The [[Devon and Cornwall Constabulary]] have taken video evidence twice and concluded there were no grounds for prosecution.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4337475.stm|title=No action on town's 'Darkie Day'|work=BBC News | date=10 March 2005 | access-date=13 May 2010}}</ref> Nonetheless protests resurface annually. The day has now been renamed "Mummer's Day" in an attempt to avoid offence and identify it more clearly with established British tradition.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4603886.stm
|title=MP calls for 'Darkie Day' to stop|work=BBC News | date=11 January 2006 | access-date=13 May 2010}}</ref> The debate has now been subject to academic scrutiny.<ref name="cs">M. Davey, ''Guizing: Ancient Traditions and Modern Sensitivities'', [[Philip Payton]] (ed), ''Cornish Studies 14'' (Exeter, 2006), p. 229.</ref> It is hoped that some of the more untraditional [[Minstrel]] songs that were incorporated in favour of traditional [[Cornwall|Cornish]] songs will soon be discontinued.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdk4v11U4tQ "Darkie Day"]. YouTube.</ref><ref>J. R. Daeschner, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvZdP55FSQs "True Brits and Darkie Day: Is It Racist?"]. YouTube.</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06yr6vh ''The Untold - Darkie Day: Michael and the Mummers''], [[BBC Radio 4]], Monday, 22 February 2016.</ref>

===Minstrel songs===
Although Mummer's Day is a centuries-old tradition, the act of performing [[minstrel songs]] owes its origins to the late 19th and early 20th century. Either as a result of confusion as to the real origins of disguise in the festival, or as a way of introducing more popular tunes in place of the well-preserved and still-performed Padstow carols, songs connected with [[jazz]] and the blacked-up minstrel craze of the era (which ultimately created huge stars such as [[Al Jolson]]) became associated with the guise dancing practices of the festival. The works of American songwriter [[Stephen Foster]] particularly featured.

Other researchers claim that the spirituals sung by followers of Blue 'Oss in advance of [[May Day]] originate in the groundswell of support for American black people that was extremely strong in areas of the UK where Methodism was predominant. Among other events, this led to the [[Manchester]] textile workers voting to refuse to make uniforms for the [[Confederate Army]] during the [[American Civil War]]. Minstrel songs and spirituals were performed to gain support for American black people, and the researchers claim the "blacking up" of traditional guise dancing was adapted to show this support.

Regardless of its origins, the minstrel songs contributed to the recent controversy over the festival due to the association with black people, despite the face painting having no connection. In order to revert to the original meaning of the festival, and recognising the offence that can be caused in the 21st century, the minstrel songs are being phased out of the festival, and the alternative name of ''Mummer's Day'' is now preferred.<ref name="cs" />

==See also ==
*[[Golowan festival]]
*[[Mummers Parade]]
*[[Tom Bawcock's Eve]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Mummers plays}}
*[http://www.tewkesbury.town/tewkesbury-mummers-medieval-play/ Tewkesbury's Millennia of Mummers' Heritage kept alive - United Kingdom]

{{Culture of Cornwall}}
{{Winter solstice}}
{{Portalbar|Cornwall}}

[[Category:December observances]]
[[Category:Culture of Cornwall]]
[[Category:Festivals in Cornwall]]
[[Category:Cornish nationalism]]
[[Category:Cornish festivals]]
[[Category:Winter in England]]