Mummers: The Return

Life, death and rebirth: the eternal cycle has been central to human cultures since time immemorial.

Rituals enacted in midwinter ensured the return of the sun in springtime to breathe life back into the barren soil and bring fertility to the land so that its inhabitants may reap a plentiful harvest.

As cultures have become more industrialised and moved away from a direct connection with the land and the cycles of nature, and science and technology have replaced a reliance on magic and ritual to control the unpredictable forces of nature, so these traditional rituals have been lost in most areas. However, in some rural areas, our cultural heritage is being kept alive.

In Ireland, groups of “Mummers” still perform the traditional midwinter rituals. In Bulgaria “Kukeri” is the name given to these practices. The rituals are a way of keeping alive a rich culture of traditions, as well as bringing together communities, and in the case of the Irish and Bulgarian groups, of fostering cross-cultural ties. But, says Jim Ledwith, International Programmes Manager of the Mummers Foundation, “first and foremost it’s about having fun.” Full Story

Related: religion, wicca, pagan, mummers