Christmas 2024: Mummers, Murder and Manifestations

Episode 349: In the 8th Christmas episode of the Dark Poutine podcast, we once again dive into the shadowy side of holiday traditions that often go unnoticed amidst the festive cheer. This episode will explore the dark origins of some Christmas customs, such as mummering, a practice steeped in mystery and community engagement, where masked individuals visit homes to entertain and sometimes frighten.We will also recount the chilling tale of Isaac Mercer, who met a tragic end at the hands of mummers in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, in 1860.Additionally, we’ll dig into the age-old custom of telling ghost stories during Christmas, which has deep roots in ancient traditions. This custom entertains and serves as a poignant reminder of mortality amidst the holiday festivities, adding an intriguing layer to our understanding of Christmas celebrations. We’ll share some chilly Canadian ghost stories along the way.Sources:Saturnalia | Celebration, Sacrifice, & Influence on Christmas | BritannicaThe Wild Holiday That Turned Ancient Rome Upside DownThe Fright Before Christmas by Jeff BelangerMummers, Murder and MayhemArchival Moments: An Act Outlawing MummeringCelebrate Christmas the old-fashioned way: with drunken mayhem | CBC NewsEp079 The Isaac Mercer Mummer Murder Case. | MUNStatutes of Newfoundland, 1861The Christmas Tradition With A Dark Side | The Murder Of Isaac Mercer | YoutubeAny Mummers ’Lowed In?: Christmas Mummering Traditions in Newfoundland and Labrador by Dale JarvisThe dark side of mummering: What you may not know about a beloved tradition | CBC NewsThe Isaac Mercer Mummer Murder Gate | Carved by the SeaVictorian Christmas Ghost Storytelling Traditions in MontrealRousing ghost of Mount RoyalThe Coffin Surfing GhostMontreal’s Duggan House built on a foundation of the uncannyThe long journey for a body's burial10 famously spooky Canadian ghost talesMysteries in Canadian History