By Mark Abromaitis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

“It’s all about making people smile and getting a laugh,” Ann’s Choice resident mummer Jim McCammitt says. “It’s fun, but it’s really for the benefit of people and the children.”

For most people, having to walk down the street in an embarrassing or silly outfit wouldn’t be an experience they would particularly enjoy. But for  McCammitt,  doing just that is a regular, enjoyable occurrence and something he relishes.

This year’s New Year’s Day Parade down Broad Street in Philadelphia will mark McCammitt’s 60th year of participation in the event.

Costumes make the mummer
Mummers have marched on New Year’s Day in Philadelphia for more than 65 years, and all mummers dress in elaborate costumes. A fixture in many of the  ethnic communities in Southe Philadelphia, a mummer’s costume isn’t put together haphazardly. They are usually well thought-out and handmade. Each mummer is categorized into one of four distinct types depending on their look and performance.

The categories are comics, fancies, string bands, and fancy brigades (teams). McCammitt says that he has participated in all of the categories but is now a proud member of the fancy club. “It lets you be really creative,” he says.

Fancies are composed of a variety of spectacular costumes, often oversized  and covered with feathers. “There’s no limit to what you can be,” McCammitt says. Some of his most memorable costumes include a larger than life Asian inspired get-up, a three-faced clown costume, an elaborate “don’t rain on my parade” outfit, and a classic Halloween witch costume.

A way of life
In 1947, McCammitt’s mother, who worked in a nightclub, introduced him to a group of string band mummers that participated in the parade. So in January of 1948, McCammitt gave it a try and has participated ever since.