The Mummer's Veil

an exhibition of the works of David Blackwood
March 29 to April 22, 2003
Opening Reception March 29, 2:00 to 5:00 pm

The origin of the Christmas tradition of 'Mummering' can be traced back to celebrations of the Twelve Days of Christmas in the Middle Ages, and these traditions were probably derived from much earlier Druidic rituals surrounding the winter solstice. Mummering began on the night of Boxing Day and continued until January 6. Groups of mummers would wander from village to village at night, playing the fool and calling on a house with a measured, ceremonial knock and the invocation "Any mummers allowed in?" The mummers would be admitted to the kitchen and questioned to guess their identity. Once their true identity was guessed they were required to throwback the veil or mask and expose or 'unveil'. They would then be offered a drink or their 'Christmas' a plate of cakes and a glass of cordial. In repayment the mummers were expected to entertain before they headed out for the next house.

Very rarely you would hear reports of a 'Lone Mummer' appearing in a remote community as it was hard to imagine anyone undertaking such a visit alone in the dead of winter. In fact, this kind of sighting was a dreaded event, which stirred ancient and instinctive superstitions against outsiders, the archetype of the 'Stranger'. A lone mummer was so unlikely and threatening that it was always referred to as a 'Spirit' and was a certain sign of impending death in the New Year. Actual encounters with lone mummers did happen once or twice every ten years.

The home-made entertainments in Newfoundland began to disappear with the arrival of radio and television. By the time the National Film Board came to Wesleyville to make the film 'Blackwood' in 1973, mummering had disappeared entirely and was re-enacted for the film.

-excerpt from 'Mummering in Newfoundland' by David Blackwood.

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Beautiful Young Mummer in Margaret Feltham's House Etching and aquatint1985 20 X 16 inches	Lone Mummer Approaching 1976 Etching and aquatint 20 X 32 inches	Lone Mummer with Cat Etching with aquatint 1987 28 X 22 inches	Study for Lone Mummer with Cat: Head 1987, Etching and aquatint 11 x 14 inches
Great Mummer Unveiled 2002 Etching and aquatint 12 X 18 inches	Study for Lone Mummer with Cat: Hands 1987, Etching and aquatint 11 x 14 inches	Lone Mummer Inside 1979 Etching and aquatint 28 X 22 inches	Mummer Family at the Door 1985 Etching and aquatint 36 X 24 inches
Mummer in Lantern Light 1993 Etching and aquatint 14 X 11 inches	Young Mummer from Wesleyville 1983 Etching and aquatint 14 X 11 inches	Pound Cove Mummers Crossing Cold Harbour Pond, 1985 Etching and aquatint 20 x 32 inches	Mummer Group from Pound Cove 1975 Etching and aquatint 8 X 10 inches
Young Mummer Dressing 1976 Etching and aquatint 11 X 14 inches	Three Mummers on Winsor's Point 1979 Etching and aquatint 20 X 32 inches	Study for Lone Mummer with Cat: Moon 1987, Etching and aquatint 11 x 14 inches	Self Portrait as a Young Mummer 2002, Oil tempera on panel 20 x 16 inches.
Fallen Mummer on Brookfield Marsh 1996 Etching and aquatint 9 X 12 inches	Study for Fallen Mummer on Brookfield Marsh 1996 Pencil on Paper 13⁷/₈ X 19³/₄ inches	Study for Heber Fifield as a Great Mummer 2000 Etching and aquatint 14 X 11 inches	Portrait of Heber Fifield as a Great Mummer 2000 Etching and aquatint 36 X 24 inches
Old Mummer Unveiled 1983 Etching and aquatint 5 x 3¹/₂ inches	Mummer at Dresser 1986 Pencil on Paper 19 X 21³/₄inches	Pound Cove Mummer Unveiled 2003 Pencil on paper 10¹/₄ x 8¹/₂ inches	Elijah Mullett as a Mummer Unveiled 2003 Ink drawing on paper 8 x 13³/₄ inches
Pound Cove Mummer 2001 Pen drawing 9⁷/₈ x 7³/₈ inches	Study for Lone Mummer 1970 Pencil on paper 14¹/₂ x 9¹/₄ inches	Nana Bishop as a Mummer Unveiled 2001 Pen Drawing 7⁷/₈ X 13³/₄ inches	David's Home Page