January 1st-California isn't the only place welcoming New Year's Day in style! Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is one of the many places in the United States ushering in the New Year in extravagant style. The Mummer's Parade is a street parade held each year on January 1st in Philadelphia. More than 10,000 people come out to watch Comics, Fancies, String Bands, and Fancy Brigades compete with elaborate costumes and themes, which take months
to complete.
About 15,000 Mummers perform in the parade. In previous years about $400,000 in prizes was awarded which is small fraction of the cost of costumes which can cost several thousand each. The City is not providing prize money this year. Pledges of financial support include Verizon ($10,000), Geno’s owner Joey Vento ($40,000) the Electric Factory ($10,000 a year for 10 years), Forman Mills ($22,000), and the Delaware Valley Regional Economic Development Fund ($100,000)(Mummers.com)
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History:The Mummers Parade traces back to mid-17th century roots, blending elements from Swedish, Finnish, Irish, English, German and other European heritages, as well as African-American heritage.The parade is related to the Mummers Play tradition from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.Revivals of this tradition are still celebrated annually in South Gloucestershire, England on Boxing Day and in parts of Ireland on St. Stephen's Day.
Swedes, Philadelphia's first settlers, brought the custom of visiting neighbors on "Second Day Christmas" (December 26) with them to Tinicum. This was soon extended through New Year’s Day with costumed celebrants loudly parading through the city.