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Regardless of its origins, the minstrel songs contributed to the recent controversy over the festival due to the association with black people, despite the face painting having no connection. In order to revert to the original meaning of the festival, and recognising the offence that can be caused in
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have taken video evidence twice and concluded there were no grounds for prosecution. Nonetheless protests resurface annually. The day has now been renamed "Mummer's Day" in an attempt to avoid offence and identify it more clearly with established
British tradition. The debate has now been subject to
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Throughout the 19th century, especially in the east of
Cornwall, Darkie Parties (originally Darking Parties) were common Christmas celebrations held in Cornish homes and public houses. People would have performed traditional Cornish and other seasonal music and seasonal folk drama such as
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owes its origins to the late 19th and early 20th century. Either as a result of confusion as to the real origins of disguise in the festival, or as a way of introducing more popular tunes in place of the well-preserved and still-performed
Padstow carols, songs connected with
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plays. "Blacking up" was also a way of preventing the labourer's Lords and
Masters from recognizing who they were. Having a good time and enjoyment was frowned upon and not seen to be "God-fearing".
379:. Minstrel songs and spirituals were performed to gain support for American black people, and the researchers claim the "blacking up" of traditional guise dancing was adapted to show this support.
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Long before the controversy, Charlie Bate, a noted
Padstow folk advocate, recounted that in the 1970s the content and conduct of the day were carefully reviewed to avoid potential offence. The
239:. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated throughout Cornwall where people would take part in the traditional custom of
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in
Penzance which started in 2007 is a modern recreation of a winter solstice celebration, during which people guise dance with darkly painted skin or masks to disguise themselves.
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originate in the groundswell of support for
American black people that was extremely strong in areas of the UK where Methodism was predominant. Among other events, this led to the
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Once an unknown local charity event, the day has recently seen controversy due to increased media coverage. While the original celebration had no connection with
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the 21st century, the minstrel songs are being phased out of the festival, and the alternative name of
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Tewkesbury's
Millennia of Mummers' Heritage kept alive - United Kingdom
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academic scrutiny. It is hoped that some of the more untraditional
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textile workers voting to refuse to make uniforms for the
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songs that were incorporated in favour of traditional
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Guizing: Ancient
Traditions and Modern Sensitivities
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41:or discuss these issues on the
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1354:Royal Institution of Cornwall
429:. Bbc.co.uk. 22 February 2016
306:Controversy over Mummer's Day
1339:Institute of Cornish Studies
1182:The Song of the Western Men
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89:the claims made and adding
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223:that occurs every year on
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1364:Movyans Skolyow Meythrin
902:Cornish pilot-gig racing
537:(St Ervan, 2005), p. 27.
447:Courtney, M. A. (1890),
1087:The Pirates of Penzance
1001:List of Cornish writers
912:Rugby union in Cornwall
613:(Exeter, 2006), p. 229.
360:particularly featured.
1011:Cornwall Film Festival
293:Darkie/Darking Parties
1816:Festivals in Cornwall
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1278:Jack the Giant Killer
1230:Prayer Book Rebellion
221:midwinter celebration
1806:December observances
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1175:Hail to the Homeland
216:), is a traditional
1821:Cornish nationalism
1811:Culture of Cornwall
1389:Cornwall portal
1349:Royal Cornwall Show
1235:Radyo an Gernewegva
1147:Bro Goth agan Tasow
1125:Fisherman's Friends
955:Cornish Gilliflower
706:Culture of Cornwall
507:, 31 December 2008.
488:, 25 February 2005.
470:, 25 February 2005.
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256:'Obby 'Oss festival
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1006:Tristan and Iseult
816:Chewidden Thursday
772:Saint Piran's Flag
611:Cornish Studies 14
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377:American Civil War
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881:Tom Bawcock's Eve
836:Kernewek Lowender
757:Jonathan Trelawny
720:Gonisogeth Kernow
634:J. R. Daeschner,
580:. 11 January 2006
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407:Tom Bawcock's Eve
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1728:Ziemassvētki
1692:Mummer's Day
1691:
1599:Şeva Zistanê
1168:Delkiow Sivy
1085:
1076:D. M. Thomas
1071:Derek Tangye
1026:W. J. Burley
1016:Tate St Ives
985:Cornish Yarg
980:Stargazy pie
846:Mummer's Day
845:
737:Celtic cross
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718:
648:
643:
630:
623:"Darkie Day"
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582:. Retrieved
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312:black people
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151:Please help
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32:
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1682:Anglo-Saxon
1680:: England (
1664:°: Scotland
1551:Zoroastrian
1515:We Tripantu
1288:King Arthur
1258:Blunderbore
975:Saffron bun
871:Picrous Day
821:Furry Dance
767:Saint Piran
654:BBC Radio 4
433:25 February
375:during the
287:Darking Day
214:Darking Day
1800:Categories
1730:: Baltic (
1708:Wren's Day
1702:Saturnalia
1561:East Asian
1481:Inti Raymi
1460:Dzon'ku Nu
1225:Bewnans Ke
1139:Folk songs
960:Hevva cake
930:Cloam oven
866:'Obby 'Oss
861:Noze looan
638:. YouTube.
625:. YouTube.
601:M. Davey,
413:References
369:Manchester
283:Darkie Day
279:Darkie Day
225:Boxing Day
153:improve it
143:verifiable
83:improve it
38:improve it
1678:Mōdraniht
1650:Christian
1646:Christmas
1536:Amaterasu
1517:: Chile (
1495:Caribbean
1483:°: Peru (
1437:festivals
1435:midwinter
1245:Mythology
1215:Ordinalia
1056:Alan Kent
856:Nos Lowen
811:Allantide
798:Festivals
485:The Times
354:Al Jolson
157:citations
87:verifying
44:talk page
1790:Cornwall
1749:Matariki
1722:Germanic
1668:Korochun
1662:Hogmanay
1640:Brumalia
1611:: Iran (
1593:Buddhist
1491:Jonkonnu
1474:Americas
1452:: Mali (
1313:Spriggan
1293:Lyonesse
1268:Cormoran
1197:Language
806:AberFest
578:BBC News
552:BBC News
391:See also
329:Minstrel
268:Penzance
262:and the
237:Cornwall
1742:Oceania
1613:Persian
1603:Kurdish
1542:Choimus
1538:: Japan
1519:Mapuche
1283:Knocker
922:Cuisine
831:Guldize
826:Golowan
729:Symbols
715:Cornish
365:May Day
333:Cornish
300:Mummers
260:Padstow
233:Padstow
218:Cornish
147:neutral
81:Please
1776:Portal
1732:Romuva
1704:: Rome
1623:Europe
1571:Pongal
1503:: US (
1464:Papaws
1443:Africa
1308:Piskie
1303:Owlman
1130:Crowns
890:Sports
609:(ed),
584:13 May
558:13 May
1753:Māori
1712:Celts
1696:Celts
1672:Slavs
1634:Saami
1630:Beiwe
1609:Yalda
1583:Hindu
1579:India
1567:Lohri
1501:Soyal
1454:Dogon
1263:Bucca
1120:Dalla
1098:Music
970:Pasty
1720:°: (
1718:Yule
1670:°: (
1549:°: (
1529:Asia
1509:Hopi
1505:Zuni
1485:Inca
1450:Goru
1433:and
994:Arts
586:2010
560:2010
435:2021
350:jazz
227:and
145:and
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