Mummers Parade comic satire

The annual Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day includes a 'Comics' division whose performers present comedic skits and topical satire that often lampoon local politicians and social issues. The parade is a long-running Philadelphia tradition with roots in 17th- and 18th-century folk customs, formalized into the modern event in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Local jokes and barbs about city life frequently appear in the Comics performances and in post-parade commentary. The Mummers Museum documents the parade's costumes and history.