What is folklore? Some people would answer: Folklore is something ancient that survives as fragments, whose meanings are forgotten in the modern world. But in the reading assigned before this lecture, Henry Glassie turns that question upside down.

He meets Hugh Nolan, who offers him an informal lesson about the mummers and their rhymes. Hugh tells him what he remembers and knows about these customs in the local community (called Ballymenone) and in other nearby places.

The first thing that earlier folklorists would say is, "this is an ancient magical ritual!" But Henry Glassie starts from a new perspective:

He says, Let’s first look at the source: people like Hugh Nolan, who told us what he remembered and knew about mumming in this one specific place. Where does mumming fit, in Hugh Nolan’s memory and map of the world?

Readings

Lecture 08 History vs. Geography of Mumming— Estimated time: ~30 minutes

Henry Glassie (1976), "Hugh Nolan interviews" pages 11-19, and “Geography” pages 68-75 in All Silver & No Brass.

This book is available only in paper format. (in case your copy is shipping late, here are copies of the two assigned chapters-- Nolan is one of "Four Conversations"; and "Geography".

J. G. Frazer (1935), Part III: The Dying God. in The Golden Bough, A Study in Magic and Religion Third Edition.

PDF File : Frazer_DyingGod_excerpts.pdf

Rationale: Compare Frazer (1935) and Glassie's (1976) perspectives on the geography of mumming traditions, to see how folklore studies transformed from a study of ancient traditions to the study of the people we interview.

Lecture

The lecture adds examples of mumming in Denmark and in Latgale (eastern Latvia). As we collect more variants like these, it's useful to keep the following general thoughts in mind:

the importance of 'place' when mapping traditions;
similarities and differences among mummers in different places;
...and always keep our eyes on the "source" - the specific people folklorists saw and talked to. What was their tradition?

Optional Expansion

Optional expansion: Glassie, “Survival,” pages 53-67 in our textbook, All Silver and No Brass. Glassie critiques the earlier folklorists who looked at mumming and could only see ancient magic rituals.
Watch the ethnographic film about mummers in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark (including the Danish children discussed in today's lecture): Karsten Bergenhøj, Masks and Mummers of the North (1984)

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