What is a Mummers Play?
A Mummers play was performed as part of Christmas entertainment in English homes especially during the 1800s. If you’ve read any novels set in the 1800s during the Christmas season, you have probably come across this bit of tradition, but might have not known what exactly it involved. Back in nineteenth-century England, some homeowners enlisted the help of their servants to play the various roles in a Mummers play. Those who were more wealthy paid entertainers to come and perform the roles. The plays revolved around good vs. evil and death and resurrection. The Mummers play begins with each character standing forth and orally reciting who they are and a brief history so those watching the play could get a generally understanding of who was who. The drama would then unfold, with one of the “good” characters dying as a result. Then, in some way or another (usually by magic potion), the good character would resurrect and would defeat the evil one.
