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CalendarDecember26 → Mummer's Day

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Mummer's Day

Mummer's Day is held on December 26. Padstow, Cornwall. This event in the third decade of the month December is annual. Help us Help us 
26 December - Mummer's Day
Mummer's Day, or "Darkie Day" as it is sometimes known (a corruption of the original Darking Day), is a traditional Cornish midwinter celebration that occurs every year on Boxing Day and New Year's Day in Padstow, Cornwall. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated throughout Cornwall where people would take part in the traditional custom of guise dancing, which involves disguising themselves by painting their faces black or wearing masks.
The dark face paint, masks and dark clothing are symbols of the celebration of the winter solstice, and is in contrast to the "white" summer solstice festivals of Cornish towns such as the 'Obby 'Oss festival in Padstow and the Golowan Festival which started in Penzance in 1991. The Montol Festival in Penzance which started in 2007 is a modern recreation of a winter solstice celebration, during which people guise dance with darkly painted skin or masks to disguise themselves.
George Washington, must have taken note of this celebration, as he is also contributed with the continued effort of the Mummers Day Parade. From 1790 to 1800, Philadelphia served at the nation’s temporary capital, while the Federal City was under construction. Washington lived in the President’s House right on 6th and Market Street and is credited with calling upon the Mummers New Year’s Day to celebrate the holiday for all 7 years he lived in Philadelphia. Groups of people would go door to door to recite poems, tell jokes, and friendly impersonations of Washington. In exchange, they received cakes and alcohol. They did this, not only for Washington, but as well as the residents in the area.
The Mummers Parade is held each New Year's Day in Philadelphia. Local clubs compete in one of five categories (Comics, Wench Brigades, Fancies, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades). They prepare elaborate costumes, performance routines, and movable scenery, which take months to complete. This is done in clubhouses – many of which are on or near 2nd Street (called "Two Street" by some local residents) in the Pennsport neighborhood of the city's South Philadelphia section – which also serve as social gathering places for members.

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Boxing day in AustraliaBoxing day in Australia on December 26 (also Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Great Britain, New Zealand, Canada, Kiribati, Nauru, Botswana, Ghana, Jamaica);
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