I am a mummer.

Mummers are broken up into four different categories. The first are the Comics. The original Mummers, Comics are the crossdressers. The silken gowns and golden slippers they wear dates back to the 19th century. Noted for their drunkeness, Comics tend to be the most rowdy of the 4 divisions. To become a comic is fairly easy. Most clubs hold open houses to buy a suit and march with them on New Year's Day. The suits run about $250 to $400 depending on the band.

Fancies are the pretty Mummers. They are the division with big, specialized costumes. The costumes not only have to fit the band's theme but also have to be styled in such a way as to fit the different Fancy categories. The Fancies are the least known Mummers but they are very traditional and are great guys. Full time membership in the 3 remaining Fancy(aka Mother clubs) clubs is not hard to come by. I am not entirely sure but I believe that some suits are open for sale and if not you can always volunteer to marshal(explained later).

The Fancy Brigades are the 3rd group. Formerly a part of the Fancies, the Brigades put together a theme with taped music and large rollaway floats. Because of their enormous size, the Brigades perform in the Convention Center. The Brigades have in essence turned into dance troups who do a 4 minutes routine to techno music. It gets a little repetitive after awhile. If you wish to marshal most bands would love you. To be a costumed member is excessively expensive. It can cost up to 4k to be a Brigader.

The fourth and most popular Mummers are the string bands. We are the "year round" Mummers as we rehearse all year and play concerts and parades all over the world. We put together a four and one half minute presentation of music, costume, props and drill. We are comprised of 48 to 64 musicians and countless marshals. Marshals for all the divisions are the offensive lineman of Mummery. A string band marshal builds the props and like theatre stage hands moves the props to their proper place during the drill. We ensure that every single facet of the band runs properly. I am a marshal and I can tell you that it is a very difficult job that all of us take pride in. To be a musician in a string band depends on whether you play an applicable instrument and the quality of your playing. Nearly every band has a music test. The best bands have over their limit of musicians--so just because you are a member does not ensure you will get a suit on New Year's Day. Dues are usually very low. You earn your suit by playing in the concerts and parade we have throughout the year.

The 18 string bands and how they got their names:

Fralinger: Named after founder John J. Fralinger

Quaker City: Nickname for Philadelphia

Ferko: Named after founder(and former Fralinger captain) Joesph Ferko. Commonly referred to as Joe's Boys.

Avalon(MY BAND): Strangely enough, Avalon was named for a cigarette that was beloved by the band members in the 1950's.

Woodland: Now in South Philly, they were founded on Woodland Avenue.

Greater Kensington: Named for location.

South Philadelphia: Named for location.

Greater Overbrook: Now in South Philly, name for location.

Broomall: Named after family owners. Only one year has the Broomall captain not been someone named Broomall.

Duffy: Named for former member.

Durning: Named for former member.

Hegeman: Named for former member.

Polish-American: Named for the large Polish population of the members. Band charter dictates that the captain has to have a Polish sirname.

Irish-American: Named for the Irish neighborhood they were founded in.

Aqua: Founded during prohibition, it was a shot at non-drinkers.

Uptown: The first band to move north of Market Street...thus, Uptown.

Trilby: The first string band, they are named after the young girl Svengali seduces.

Browne Street: Not entirely sure but I believe they are named after a street in New Orlenes. First year band that no one knows if they are actually marching or not.

On Tuesday nights, the string bands play a concert at the Mummers' Museum at 2nd and Washington. It starts at 8. Bring lawn chairs and the bevy of your choice. Bathrooms and small food items are for sale there.

Any more questions please ask and I will gladly give more specifics to them.

__________________
What's a newbold?