A tradition brought here by early immigrants from Europe, the mummers are thought to have their earliest origins in the Roman Festival of Saturnalias. Here in Philadelphia about 15,000 mummers perform in the New Year's Day parade competing for US$395,000 in prizes. This is reckoned to be only a small fraction of the value of the spectacular costumes, which can cost several thousand each. The parades take place throughout the day in most weather conditions, although weather-related postponements are not unknown. The four divisions of mummers are Comics (clowns), Fancies (themed fancy dress), String Bands (combining fancy dress and music) and Fancy Brigades (performing troupes).

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