Show New NelV Years Year's Mummers l Para Parade dc Big Ev Event j J I IThe The Mummers' Mummers Parade on New Years Year's Eve is to Philadelphia what the Tournament of Roses Is to Pasadena Pasa Pasa- only ena dena only the Mummers have a priority pr- pr on tradition The earliest settlers In the vicinity pf pi present day Philadelphia were English and Swedes The English cherished the traditional Mummer play pIny St George and the Dragon while the Swedes were fond of masquerading masquerading mas mas- informally on New Years Year's Eve The two customs had merged long tong before the Revolution and it was customary even customary even among the Quakers Quakers to to extend hospitality hospitably to I Ithe the masqueraders or give them a I Iole Isole sole ole for refreshments After the Revolution George I Washington replaced St. St George as the central figure of the festivities p F continued along the path of Spontaneity until 1886 when the parade parade pa pa- paI I rade tade was sponsored by the Silver I Crown New Years Year's association The Municipal administration o o of- recognized the parade in 1901 and representative citizenry I began turning out to watch and participate par in the festivities I The number of organizations spon spon- I loring the parade the divisions and elaborateness thereof Increased through the years On New Years Year's j I Eve in 1930 p participated In Inthe inthe inthe inI I the line of march down Bond street ind nd spectators watched the i 1 parade arade which lasted from early eve eve- ping Ing through the wee hours of ot the lew ew cw Year 3 |