It happens in Philadelphia every New Year’s Day, and has been happening since the 1800s. The Mummers Parade. Over 10,000 marchers in four divisions parade through the city. My favorite division is the String Bands. The elaborate costumes, music, and routines get the entire street clapping and dancing.
There has been controversy with the parade through the years. Women were not permitted to participate until the 1970s, and sometimes the themes chosen by the different clubs are a bit questionable, but nothing has stopped it yet. Each year, these groups of working-class folks don sequins and feathers and do the “Mummers Strut” down Broad Street.
The photo challenge was created by:
- Cathy from Nanacathydotcom
- Jane from Rainbowjunkiecorner
- Melissa from The Aran Artisan
- Sandra from Wild Daffodil
alookatthelittlethings 
It looks very colorful and festive. Is it all musicians or do others also march in the parade?
Only the string band division has costumes. There are also comics and a division called “wenches” (Which is a bunch of men who have usually been up drinking all night, wearing dresses. I’m not sure how that tradition started).
Amazing costumes, it must be quite a spectacle.
They work on the costumes the entire year. I always wonder where they find all the feathers.
[…] Christina A Look at the Little Things ……. …feathers […]
Great image, its amazing what some people will get up to for a bit of fun and frivolity.
It’s fun to be a spectator too.