The art of Mumming is an old and important tradition, giving voice to the views of the serfs and to the otherwise powerless underclasses. In order to avoid persecution from those in power, masks were worn by the mummers who would perform bawdy skits during parades and festivals. One such performance is going on in Philadelphia as I write this.

It also should be noted that most people enjoy this sort of thing, either overtly, or secretly. Everyone, it seems except those who have been caught with their pants down, namely the Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia. I find it amusing that the medieval tradition of mumming is being used to mock the medieval tradition of “the unquestionable authority of Catholic church leaders”.