A Mesmerizing Miscellany of Marvelous and Majestic Mummers

The Newfoundland Historical Society along with the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador will be holding its annual Gilbert Higgins free public lecture on Thursday, November 28, 2013 at 8 pm at Hampton Hall Lecture Theatre, located at the Marine Institute on Ridge Road

This month’s lecturer will be Paul Smith, and his talk is titled:

“A Mesmerizing Miscellany of Marvelous and Majestic Mummers: The Marketing of a Newfoundland Christmas Tradition.”—Gilbert Higgins Lecture.

This illustrated presentation explores the ways in which commodification of nostalgia has become the focus of some sectors of the market place. The marketing of tradition is by no means a new phenomenon and it has been far more extensive than we perhaps realize. This underestimation possibly stems from the fact that, while we perceive today that marketing is facilitated through some form of corporate broker or entrepreneur, in reality this is not always the case. Instead performers have often taken on this role themselves. Similarly, at the grass roots level local artists and crafts people seeing performances of traditions such, as mummers, have turn those experiences into marketable wares.

Refreshments to follow

Parking is free and everyone is welcome to attend!

For more information feel free to contact Christina Robarts at nhs@nf.aibn.com or call (709) 722-3191. You can also contact Mary Ellen at anla@nf.aibn.com or call (709) 722-9034

The Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation and The HFNL

Here at the Heritage Foundation we love to help support the many different heritage groups around the province. Recently, we have been meeting with the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation, and are helping them plan and organize an upcoming forum for the Baccalieu Trail.

The Baccalieu Trail is a 230km touring route in Newfoundland which runs from Markland, to Whitbourne, Heart's Content, Grates Cove, Bay de Verde, Victoria, Carbonear, Harbour Grace, Spaniard's Bay, Cupids, Brigus, and many, many places in between. The over 70 communities and stops along the trail are rich with tradition and heritage, and the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation is organizing a forum to bring them all together, share ideas, and offer support.

The planning is still in its infancy at this point, but we are working together to organize their event, and get things off the ground!

Keep an eye on the blog for updates and news about the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation.

if you're interested in attending on behalf of your community or foundation, please contact sarah@heritagefoundation.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador ICH goes to Korea

ICHCAP (www.ichcap.org) is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre based in Korea, whose main role "is to strengthen 'Information and Networking' in the framework of the 2003 UNESCO Convention."

It supports activities directed toward the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage among the 48 Member States of the Asia-Pacific region with a primary function of disseminating information and building networks in the ICH field.

One of its tools to disseminate information is the ICH Courier newsletter, and in the most recent edition, Volume 17, the work of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador is highlighted, along with reports from Nepal, Uzbekistan, the Republic of Korea, and Papua New Guinea.

You can read more about the newsletter, and download a PDF version directly from their website.

Rugelach on the Rock: a delicious Jewish pastry-making workshop!

On Sun. November 24th, Memorial University’s Public Folklore class will host “Rugelach on the Rock,” a pastry baking workshop at St. Thomas’ Church Hall. This instructional workshop led by Jonathan Richler will teach participants how to make rugelach (roo-guh-lakh), a traditional Jewish pastry packed with sweet or savory filling. Participants will learn to roll, prepare, shape and bake this crescent-shaped treat with a Newfoundland twist.

The workshop is organized by Folklore 6740: Public Folklore, a graduate student course at MUN on local traditions, in partnership with the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. Jonathan Richler, a St. John’s native, is president of the local Jewish Community Havura and an organizer of the J-Deli pop up deli at Chinced Bistro.

The event will take place from 2:00pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 24th at St. Thomas’ Church Hall, 8 Military Road, St. John’s. Registration is $20 and includes all materials and detailed instruction. Space is limited. To register, contact Nicole Penney at the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador at 1-888-739-1892 ex. 6 or nicole@heritagefoundation.ca

Tueday's Folklore Photo: A Pretty Ugly Stick

I saw this ugly stick in a cabin in French's Cove over the weekend and was inspired to take a photo. I'm not sure who made it, but it has all the classic ugly stick features: an ugly head, some jangly noise-makers, a rubber boot for stomping, and some decorative flourishes to make it as unique as possible. I am particularly fond of the pretty feathers on this one.

You can make your own ugly stick with help from the upcoming Mummers Festival. There are two workshops that you can sign up for. Click here to learn more, and we hope to see you there!

-Lisa

Stories and snacks for cool fall nights

In this issue of the Intangible Cultural Heritage update for October/November 2013, we draw to the end of our wells project, and share some thoughts and findings on wells, water, and community. We have news from Norris Arm, with stories about traditional games, and from the Bay Roberts area on a project to document traditional folk belief, including stories collected from students at Ascension Collegiate. And to finish off, we have more stories brought to life through the digitization of the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation oral history files. And if all those stories get you hungry, don’t kvetch! Memorial University students in the Department of Folklore are partnering with us to organize a rugelach making workshop. Read on for details!

Contributors: Dale Jarvis, Lisa Wilson, Sarah Ingram, Joelle Carey, Nicole Penney

You can download the newsletter in pdf and other formats here.

Mummers Parade marches closer, and needs volunteers!

Do you like wearing a bra outside your clothes? Do you own long underwear? Is your idea of the perfect musical instrument an ugly stick? Then we have a volunteer opportunity for you!

The Mummers Festival will soon be here, and volunteers play a vital role in this community event! We hope you enjoy working as a volunteer as much a we, the organizers do! Community involvement can be a very gratifying experience.

All volunteers will receive a 2013 Mummers Festival T-shirt for their help. They are beautiful, just like you!

For details on how you can participate, visit the signup page here.

Tuesday's Folklore Photo: Home Remedies

Unfortunately we're in the thick of cold and flu season. It's that wonderful time of year when everyone around you seems to be coming down with something gross and mucusy. The thought of even touching a public handrail or door knob feels tantamount to licking the floor of a public restroom. Riding a packed elevator or bus is just asking for trouble. 

While having a chat today with my grandmother, who is "stuffed up as anything", I asked her about old folk remedies for colds. She described a cough drop her mother made from molasses and a bit of kerosene. Her mother would boil molasses with a few drops of kerosene until the mix was very thick. She then let it cool and cut it into pieces. My grandmother loved having this lozenge, because as she said, "it was like candy, and we didn't get candy very much back then."

My co-worker, Lisa Wilson, is currently conducting a series of oral histories with community members from the Bay Roberts area. The topic of home remedies came up in an interview with Alice Mercer, age 95, of Clarke's Beach: 

I got a cold. I wasn't very old. I must have been a year old, and my grandmother, my dad’s mother was living with us at that time, and she said to my mother, 'Elsie, she’s going to die anyhow, she’s going to choke with that cold on her chest she’s got. So, can I try an old time remedy?' And she said, 'I don’t care what you try as long as you save her.' So she mixed up molasses and a little tiny drop of kerosene oil from the lamp, because in them days they used lamps to light the houses. Just a drop or two in the drop of molasses, and boiled it, and when it cooled, gave me a taste. And mom said I was no time getting better when that got down in my stomach. - Alice Mercer, Clarke's Beach 

There are several variations of this recipe for cough drops, another of which includes Minard’s Liniment and ginger.  One aspect always stays consistent though- anyone who used this home remedy absolutely swears by it! 

Rest in Peace Mr. Greenland

Cecil Greenland, posing in his home, six months before his 107th birthday, 2013.

On November 5th, 2013, Spaniard's Bay lost an incredible centenarian: 107 year old Cecil Greenland. I had the opportunity to meet and interview Cecil this past spring, and it's a visit I won't soon forget. He was an active, friendly man with a wonderful sense of humor. As a tribute to Cecil, I'd like to post an article that I wrote about our visit for an issue of the ICH Update:

 ***

One of the things that I love about being a folklorist is that I frequently get to seek out elders in a community. In everyday life I rarely have the chance to meet people from older generations, but when collecting oral histories for work, it comes with the territory. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with a centenarian who, at 106, is the oldest person I’ve ever spoken with. Interviews like this are not ones that can easily be forgotten. Cecil Greenland is personable, active, humourous and has an unbelievable memory. During our visit, he recalled for me some of his family history, and then talked about the busy life he has lead. Originally from Coley’s Point, Cecil now lives with his daughter Linda in Spaniard’s Bay. While not serving as a full-time caregiver (Cecil has someone come in for that), Linda helps ensure that he remains mentally and physically active. Cecil is special for reaching such an old age, but many members of his family have lived long, productive lives too. 

Cecil's father and grandfather, both of whom lived long, productive lives.

He thinks he has good genes, but also cites staying active as a reason behind his longevity. Here is some of his life’s story: 

“My full name is Cecil Llewellyn Greenland. Now, you wonder where I got the name Llewellyn? Well, I was called after the Bishop. The Bishop baptized me, Bishop Llewellyn Jones baptized me over in St. John’s Evangelist Church in 1906. I was born on Coley’s Point--years ago you’d say Coley’s Point and they’d take it for granted it was Bay Roberts because it has always been a part of the community. I’m one of eight boys. My mother had three boys in one birth, and twins in one birth, and the only sister we had, Ethel, she died of blood poisoning when she was 12 years old. The only sister we had--the rest was all boys. Jim, my oldest brother, he’s dead. He was 98. And Arthur, he was the youngest of the boys, he was 89. And George was the school teacher--a school teacher all his lifetime--he was 99 when he died. And Isaac was 97 when he died, and I’m 106 and almost 6 months. I’m going to to try for 107 anyway, but maybe I might change my mind and go for 110."

"I was 7 years old when I went to school first. You had to be 7 in order to get ins school. We had soccer, and we had a game called cricket, we had football, and we had hockey. Oh yes, I played a lot of hockey in my day, you know. I played on Bell Island, played in Carbonear, played in St. John's, Harbour Grace, Brigus. I also have four trades. I was a school teacher one time. I taught in a little settlement down in Bonavista Bay, a place called St. Chad's. An epidemic struck the little town and the department of health closed the school. ... I have been around. I've fished the Labrador--three years cod fishing and one year salmon catching. And I'm a carpenter by trade. I have my certificate as a full-fledged carpenter."

During his time as a carpenter, Cecil built 18 or 19 homes, including the one he is living in now. He build his present house from start to finish when he was 80 years old. Linda was quick to acknowledge this accomplishment--when he said that he had hammered in every single nail for the house, she nodded and told me that he was speaking the truth. Even though he can no longer build houses, Cecil always takes on smaller projects and likes to spend time "puttering around" in his workshop. He seemed very pleased with his daily routine and let it be known that he won't be slowing down anytime soon. In the meantime, I look forward to helping him celebrate his 107th birthday in October of this year.

Cecil talks with me about his family and the lives that they lead.

Cecil's obituary can be viewed here, in the St. John's Telegram. Thank you Cecil for sharing your stories and inspiring us all to live happy, healthy, and productive lives.

-Lisa