A Yuletide Revel

(photos from Revels 2000)

The Mummers' Play: ST GEORGE AND THE DRAGON

The medieval Mummers' plays, celebrating rites of fertility, death and rebirth, began in England at Christmas time. The plays were performed by groups of common folk, called Mummers, who traveled about with their slapstick plays to farmyards, houses and Manor Halls. One of the most popular stories used in many of the plays was that of St. George.

The subject was always the same: death and rebirth. St. George's dying symbolizes an annual death. (The sword dance is an important part of the action. The intricate weaving patterns of the dance culminate in a woven "star" of swords - a perfect hexagon.) The "doctor" or "science" tries to bring St. George back to life - without success. When the Jester takes a sprig of holly and touches it to St. George's forehead, life returns. St George's rebirth is a symbol of the triumph of spring over winter, light over darkness, life over death.

The event provided a welcome opportunity for collecting alms. According to the book "The Customs and Ceremonies of Britain" it may even have been the desire to combine ancient ritual with a fund-raising "good show" that gave birth to mumming plays. Our version has been taken, much abridged, from the book "Saint George and the Dragon" by John Langstaff.

 

 

 

A Yuletide Revel