Philadelphia is known for the famous New Year’s Day Mummers Parade, which kicks off at 9 am on Sunday
morning. It’s a challenge for the late-night partiers to get out that early, but surely worth rolling out of bed to
experience this authentic Philly tradition if you have the chance. The city’s tourism office expects thousands to turn
out to see the masked revelers and string bands prance up Broad Street. The Mummers parade grew out of European customs
brought by the city’s settlers and origins of the custom date back to medieval England, when troupes of costumed
performers roamed from house to house presenting a Christmas folk drama. Eventually the tradition came to America and
extended to the New Year, marked by loud noisemakers that went off as locals paraded through the streets. Check out the
Mummers Museum for more. I’ll be in Philly for a low-key holiday
with some friends. I’m not sure what we’ll do on New Year’s Eve yet, but we may try to catch the fireworks display at Penn’s Landing. We’ll probably watch the Eagles game and have cheesesteaks, of course, but I’m
not sure if I’ll make it downtown to the parade. If I do, I’ll be sure to give a report when I return…next year.
Enjoy the holiday and Happy New Year everyone!