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Mummer's Day, or "Darkie Day" as it is sometimes known (a corruption of the original "Darking Day"), is an ancient Cornish midwinter celebration that occurs every year on Boxing Day and New Year's Day in Padstow, Cornwall. It was originally part of the pagan heritage of midwinter celebrations that were regularly celebrated throughout Cornwall where people would take part in the traditional custom of guise dancing, which involves disguising themselves by painting their faces black or wearing masks. The dark face paint, masks and dark clothing are symbols of the celebration of the winter solstice, and is in contrast to the 'white' summer solstice festivals of Cornish towns such as the 'Obby 'Oss festival in Padstow and Golowan in Penzance. The Montol Festival in Penzance is a similar winter solstice celebration, during which people guise dance with darkly painted skin or masks to disguise themselves. There has been recently controversy in the British media regarding Mummer's Day, due to the blackened faces and the term "Darkie Day", with commentators misinterpreting the festival as racist. The name "Darkie Day" is actually a corruption of the original "Darking Day", which refers to the "darking" (darkening) of the faces. Both the face painting and the term "Darkie" have no connection to black people as a group.〔M. Davey, ''Guizing: Ancient Traditions and Modern Sensitivities'', Philip Payton (ed), ''Cornish Studies 14'' (Exeter, 2006) p229〕 ==Darkie/Darking Parties== Throughout the 19th century, especially in the east of Cornwall, Darkie Parties (originally Darking Parties) were common Christmas celebrations held in Cornish homes and public houses. People would have performed traditional Cornish and other seasonal music and seasonal folk drama such as Mummers plays.〔Courtney, M. A. (1890) ''Folklore and Legends of Cornwall''〕 "Blacking up" was also a way of preventing the labourer's Lords and Masters from recognizing who they were. Having a good time and enjoyment was frowned upon and not seeming to be "God Fearing". 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Mummer's Day」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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