Mummers in colorful costumes will be filling the streets of Center City Philadelphia on Jan. 1.

The 2020 Philadelphia Mummers Parade is the longest-running traditional folk parade in the country -- and the perfect way to celebrate a new year.

But what is a Mummer? And how did this all come about?

We spoke with Rusty Martz, president of the board of directors of the Mummers Museum, read Charles E. Welch Jr.'s “Oh! Dem Golden Slippers” and consulted a good ol’ encyclopedia to find out.

What is a Mummer?

"It's any man, woman or child involved in the fantasy of song, dance and costume splendor on each January 1st in the annual Philadelphia New Year's Day parade," said Martz. The mummers devote an entire year to crafting their costumes, writing their skits, rehearsing their performances.

Where does it originate?

Mummers have their roots in the past, tracing as far back as ancient Egypt. They're best documented during the medieval period, where the mummers' play was a popular pastime for the poor. There's a wide variety of mummer plays, but they're characterized by big masks and pantomime traditions.

In Europe these mummers would parade around streets, enter random houses and play dice in silence (because that's not creepy at all).

As time went on, the mummers began to beg for food or drink from those in the area after performing a skit (often satirical) or poem.

The Mummers Museum shares this "famous Mummers poem":

"Here we stand before your door,

As we stood the year before;

Give us whisky, give us gin,

Open the door and let us in."

How did it get to Philadelphia?

The credit, Martz says, goes to the Swedish immigrants in Philadelphia in the late 17th century. But it was quickly picked up by other neighborhoods in South Philly.

"In Philadelphia, it used to be a celebration of rivalry between the neighborhoods," Martz said. "Philadelphia is a very neighborhood-oriented city and the neighbors of certain areas would gather around their fire house and do a lot of the reveling before New Years."

That reveling, by the way, including lots of gun fire (why not?). The mummers would also go into people's houses and make a ruckus, playing with blinds and demanding soup or alcohol before they left, according to Martz.

The parade aspect of the Mummers that we recognize today really came together in the 1860s.

When did the city get involved?

Turns out, the city wasn't a fan of a bunch of people in crazy costumes roaming around shooting guns and demanding alcohol. So they got involved, sanctioning and organizing the first official Philadelphia Mummers Parade in 1901. The city figured with its involvement it could tone down the parade.

And it worked.

Proof: no more gunfire during the parade.

So what traces of original Mummery remains?

Aside from the obvious (costumes, music), the Mummers still perform skits, just like their European forebears did in medieval days. The comics brigade really carries this tradition forward with gusto (and controversy).

Mummers still go into people's houses too for alcohol and/or soup. The only difference is that now they only enter homes that have their doors open and want their visit.

What are the Mummer divisions?

These are basically the clubs that make up the Mummers. They are:

Comics: These Mummers perform various skits that satirize and make fun of current events and pop culture. The comics are made up of three big groups, which are broken down into smaller clubs. The main groups are Goodtimers, Landi and Murray.

Wench Brigades: Mummers in colorful costumes, dress-and-bloomers suits, umbrellas and painted faces. Wench Brigades this year are Americans, Bryson, Cara Liom, Froggy Carr, Jhj Saints, O’Malley, Oregon, Pirates and Riverfront.

Fancy Division: Decadently dressed Mummers known for their costumes. The only Fancy Division club today is Golden Sunrise.

Fancy Brigades: An offshoot of the Fancy Division, the brigades not only look incredible but also perform short Broadway-esque skits. This year, the Fancy Brigades include 2nd St. Shooters, Avenuers, Clevemore, Downtowners, Golden Crown, Jokers, Purple Magic, Satin Slipper, Saturnalian, Shooting Stars, Spartans, and Vikings.

String Bands: Mummers who play music while strutting down Broad St. They’re not permitted to play any brass instruments and only use saxophones, banjos, accordions, violins, percussion instruments (including glockenspiels) and bass violins. This year’s String Bands are Avalon, Aqua, Duffy, Durning, Ferko, Fralinger, Greater Kensington, Greater Overbrook, Hegeman, Jersey, Pennsport, Polish American, Quaker City, South Philadelphia, Uptown and Woodland.

There's a song right?

“Oh! Dem Golden Slippers” is the traditional anthem of the Mummers. Written by James Bland, an African American, which was introduced into the parade in 1905 by minstrel Charles Dumont. You can expect to hear it by multiple times throughout the parade, as almost every String Band will bust it out at some point. The song is always accompanied by the signature Mummers’ Strut.

Also, you'll note that many a Mummer is rocking golden shoes -- that's a nod to this song.

"Oh! Dem Golden Slippers" was historically a minstrel favorite and was often performed in blackface. Mummers have had a bad history concerning blackface, which was officially banned in 1964 but has been spotted several times in the years since.

Want to learn more about the Mummers?

Head to the Mummer Museum (1100 S. Second St., Philadelphia). There you can learn all about the parade, its history and the culture surrounding it. It’s also free, although donations are appreciated. The Mummers Museum is closed on New Year’s Day, but open on New Year’s Eve. More information at mummersmuseum.com.

This story is an updated version of a 2017 article. It has been updated to include the South Philadelphia String Band.