Folk Play Links - Canada

Compiled by Chris Little

Alberta

001 - The Mummers and the Paupers [by Andrea and Dave Spalding, in Canadian Folk Music Bulletin, Vol.28 No.3, Sep. 1994, pp.21-23 - Account of reviving English plays in Canada]

British Columbia

002 - Vancouver Folk Players
003 - Vancouver Morris Men

Manitoba

004 - Village Green Morris Men

Newfoundland

The 'Mummering' or 'Jannying' tradition is currently still very active in Newfoundland. There are two 'Mummering' customs - one in which plays are performed, as in Britain & Ireland, and the other involving house-visiting in disguise. It is the latter which predominates today, thanks to the popular 'Mummers' Song' and book by the folk duo Simani.

005 - Ireland Newfoundland Partnership: Educational Bursaries Scheme, No.15: M.A. Thesis on Newfoundland/Irish Folk Culture [by Caoimhe Ní Shuilleabhain, M.A. thesis, University College Dublin - with a particular focus on the mumming tradition of the South East counties of Ireland, which is replicated in the ‘mummering’ tradition of Newfoundland.]
006 - ? [Change Islands text]
007 - A brief history of the early inhabitants of Lance Cove, Bell Island, Newfoundland [internet edition] [by Lloyd C. Rees - Mention of Janneys at Lance Cove]
008 - A History of the Island of Newfoundland [by Anspach, 1819]
009 - A Newfoundland Christmas ["Expected Visitors " - a painting of Mummers by Danielle Loranger. Sound files for "The Mummers Song"]
010 - A Public Nuisance: A History of the Mummers Troupe [Book for sale: by Chris Brookes, 1988]
011 - Adding some Christmas Cheer - Mummers in Newfoundland
012 - Ambrose, of Heart's Delight [Figurine for sale]New
013 - Any Mummers Allowed In? [Prints for sale: by Richard Steele, 1885]
014 - Any Mummers Allowed In? Christmas Mumming in Newfoundland [by Lynn Noel, in American Morris Newsletter, 1984]
015 - Any Mummers 'lowed In? [in First-Time Readers, Vol.4 No.1, Dec. 1996, p.5 - Mummering at Stag Harbour, Fortune Harbour & Colinet]
016 - Behind a winter door: it's serious business when the mummers come a-knocking - Masquerade [by Gordon Jones, in Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Autumn 2002]
017 - CBC - The World this Weekend, 23rd Dec. 2001 [Audio (about 40% way through the show)]
018 - Christmas Lore : 'Janneying' in Newfoundland [citation of Melchen, in New York Folklore Quarterly, Vol.VII No.4, Winter 1951, pp.272-273]
019 - Christmas Mumming and the New Year in Outport Newfoundland [by Gerald M. Sider, in Past and Present, No.71, May 1976, pp.102-125 - JSTOR subscription required]
020 - Christmas Pictures [Includes photos of Mummers in St.Peter's school students' homes in McCallum]
021 - Court Cases Found In Various Newspapers [in The Harbor Grace Standard and Conception Bay Advertiser, 8th Jan. and 31st Dec. 1862 - Sentences handed out to unlicenced mummers at Harbor Grace]
022 - Diary of the Rev M.P. O'Driscoll for the Years 1874-1881 [internet only?] [Mention of Mummers at Tors Cove on 26 December 1878]
023 - Excursions in and about Newfoundland during the Years 1839 and 1840 [by Joseph Beete Jukes, 1842, Chap.VII - includes a brief description of &Fools and Mummers&]
024 - Excursions in and about Newfoundland during the Years 1839 and 1840 [extract from Joseph Beete Jukes, 1842, Chap.VII - Modern photo]
025 - Folklore and the Creation of National Identities: A North American Perspective [by Gerald L. Pocius, An article that includes a discussion of revived interest in Mummering in Newfoundland]
026 - Fools and Mummers [by Larry Dohey, in The Monitor: - Article on the banning of Mummers in St.Johns. [Included a painting by John W. Hayward of Mumming in the 1850s.] - Archived]
027 - Growing Up - Up in Cove, by Abbie Whiffen [internet only]
028 - History of King's Cove [by J.T. Lawton and P.K. Devine, 1944, Chap.IV - includes description the Jannies' mummering play]
029 - Jannying at Victoria
030 - Models and Mirrors: towards an anthropology of public events [by Don Handelman. New York, Cambridge University Press, 1998 - includes chapter 'Christmas mumming in Newfoundland' - Questia subscription required]
031 - Mummering [Introduction to Mummering in Newfoundland - with photos]
032 - Mummering [Accounts from pupils at St.Bernards School - including a 11.9MB Real video.]
033 - Mummering - Theatre of Antiquity [by Michael Rossiter, in Muse, Vol.49 Iss.11, 27th Nov. 1998 - on the revival of Mummering in Newfoundland through the activities of Chris Brookes - includes photos]
034 - Mummering around the Southern Shore [The Irish Heart of Newfoundland']
035 - Mummering at English Harbour
036 - Mummering at Victoria
037 - Mummering in Newfoundland, Canada [Lots of first hand accounts from schoolchildren and their teachers]
038 - Mummering in the Outports [by D.W.S. Ryan - Photo of mummer models plus description of Mummering]
039 - Mummering or Jannying
040 - Mummering, December 27th, 2003 [photos]
041 - Mummers and Moshers: Two Rituals of Trust in Changing Social Environments [citation of Craig T. Palmer, in Ethnology, Vol.44 No.2, Spring 2005]New
042 - Mummers and Real Strangers: The Effect of Diminished Isolation on Newfoundland Christmas House Visiting [citation of Craig T. Palmer, in Newfoundland Studies, Vol.8 No.2, Fall 2002]
043 - Mummers Night in Oshawa [CD for sale: by A. Frank Willis]
044 - Mummers Night in Oshawa [by A.Frank Willis. Lyrics to the song]
045 - Mummers visit my home in Newfoundland at Christmas [Photo by Shawn Thomas]
046 - Mumming in Newfoundland [by Ann Marie Powers, in World and I, Dec. 1988 - Subscription required for the full online article.]
047 - Mysterious Canada: Mummering [Texts or plays and songs, plus a painting or Mummers by Danielle Loranger]
048 - Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage : Custom [calendar customs - including Mummering - with photo]
049 - Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage : Mummers' Troupe [A now defunct Newfoundland professional theatre company, whose repertoire was based on the mummering tradition]
050 - Newfoundland in 1842 [by Bonnycastle, 1842]
051 - Newfoundland's Grand Banks - Folklore
052 - Northern Bay, by Mary Elizabeth McCarthy, 1964 [internet only] [Mention of Christmas Mummers at Northern Bay]
053 - Purity - Syrup [served when the costumed "Mummers" come 'round at Christmas]New
054 - Salmonier Country Manor: Activities: "Christmas and The Mummers" [Annual mummers play]
055 - The History of Our Communities [Jannies at Daniel's Harbour]
056 - The Mummers [by Loreen Adams-Haldenby, in Downhomer, Dec. 1999 - Mummering at Milton - Archived]
057 - The Mummers Song [song]
058 - The Mummer's Song in Newfoundland: Intellectuals, Revivalists and Cultural Nativism [citation of Gerald L. Pocius, in Newfoundland Studies, Vol.4 No.1, Spring 1988]
059 - The Mummers Troupe, the Canada Council, and the Production of Theatre History [by Alan Filewod, in Theatre Research in Canada, Vol.19 No.1, Spring 1998, pp.3-34]
060 - The Mummer's Veil [exhibition of paintings]
061 - The Newfoundland Mummers’ Christmas House-Visit [citation of Margaret R. Robertson, 1984 - No.49]
062 - This Marvellous Terrible Place: Images of Newfoundland and Labrador [extract from Yva Momatuik and John Eastcott, p.137 - Mummering in Francois]
063 - Twinelofts & Pantries [by Battle Harbour Literacy Council, p.18 - Jannies at Deep Water Creek]

Ontario

064 - Cuckoo's Nest Folk Club [Annual mummers play]
065 - First Unitarian Congregation, Toronto [Usually mummers play for a special service in Winter]
066 - Flying Cloud Folk Club [Annual mummers play]
067 - Friends of Fiddler's Green [Sometime performers of mummers play - See: www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart655.htm]
068 - Mummers & Pagans & Wrens, Oh MY! [Summary description of mummers' play - Photo of Saint George]
069 - Nepean Little Theatre: History [List with 1975-76 performance]
070 - Poculi Ludique Societas [List with 1965, 1976 & 1978 performances]
071 - Wassail! - Celebrate Christmas 19th Century style
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© 2000-2008, TDRG. Contact: Chris Little, Last updated: 24/04/2008