Newfoundland & Labrador Folklore

Traditions • Music • Food • Sayings

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Traditions

"Mummering" is a very old Newfoundland custom that dates back to the time of the earliest settlers who came to our land from England and Ireland.

Sometime during the twelve days of Christmas, usually on the night of the "Old Twelfth", People would disguise themselves with old articles of clothing and visit the homes of their friends and neighbours. They would even cover their faces with a hood, scarf,mask or pillowcase to keep their identity hidden. Men would sometimes dress as women and women as men. They would go from house to house. They usually carried their own musical instruments to play, sing and dance in every house they visited. The host and hostess of these 'mummers parties' would serve a small lunch of Christmas cake with a glass of syrup or blueberry or dogberry wine. All mummers usually drink a Christmas "grog" before they leave each house. (A grog is a drink of an alcoholic beverage such as rum or whiskey.)

When mummers visit everyone in the house starts playing a guessing game. They try to guess the identity of each mummer. As each one is identified they uncover their faces, but if their true identity is not guessed they do not have to unmask.

Mummers

Music

Another of Newfoundlands well known traditions is music which is called "Newfie Music". Such music is played with an accordion and also a fiddle. Just a few of traditional Newfoundland songs are: The Old Polina, The Kelligrews Soiree, Squid Jigging Ground, Tickle Cove Pond, Jack Was Every Inch a Sailor, Now I'm Sixty Four, Hard Hard Times, Lukey's Boat, and also known as our "alternative" traditional anthem is We'll Rant and We'll Roar. Our true Newfoundland anthem is: Ode To Newfoundland.

Accordion and Fiddle

Food

Also unique to Newfoundland is food, from the land or sea. At the head of the class is fish. Fish in Newfoundland is prepared next to none. Fresh fish, saltfish, smoked caplin, herring, mackeral are all prepared in their unique way. To add taste to the some fish preparation fried pork called scrunchions is added.

Saltfish and Smoked Caplin

Sayings

Newfoundland is a place of uniqueness. One very unique thing about Newfoundland is the way we talk. Der ain't no speech like Newfoundland speech b'ye. The following is just a few of sayings used in Newfoundland.

• Eyes like a caplin goin' offshore - (His eyes were bloodshot!)
• I'll be dere da rackley - (I'll be there in a few minutes.)
• 'ere - (Here...note that some Newfies drop their h's and pick them up in front of vowels!)
• Ows'she'gettin'on'b'ye - (How are you?)
• Turn round, she's bind ya - (Turn around, she's behind you.)
• Idn't dat fulish b'ye - (Isn't that foolish...and of course we Newfies say "b'ye" at the end of many phrases, instead of the "eh" associated with Canadians!)
• Shockin' that is, shockin - (This should not need too much explaining...it's shocking!)
• Ya gat da face only a mutter could luv - (You got the face only a mother could love, in other words, ugly!)
• Mind yer mout now - (Be careful what you are saying, usually used to tell someone their language is a little off colour.)
• Any mummers loud in? - (Mummers are people dressed up who visit around Christmas...this is the question they usually ask after someone answers the door.)
• Giv us a bitta dat luh - (Give us some of that.)
• Beatin the pat - (Walking the roads or just hanging around.)
• If I 'ad a face da likes o yers me son, I'd walk backwrds - (Someone would be really insulting your looks here...if they looked like you, they would walk backwards so nobody would see them. Again, note the me son...another typical Newfie saying!)
• Where you 'longs to? - (Where are you from?)
• Oh me nerves, de got me drove! - (My nerves are bad!)
• Arse foremost - (Backwards.)
• Garnteed, b'ye - (I agree.)
• Scoff and a scuff - (Meal followed by a dance.)
• My 'ead feels right logy after the "time" last night - (Someone is suffering from a hangover, their head is heavy after the party last night!)
• I'll be over now, d'once - (I will be there soon.)
• You're as slow as cold molasses - (That's pretty slow!)
• Goin'? She wudden't goin' now I know - (Moving at great speed.)
• Now luh, da arse is gone right out of er - (The economy is facing hard times!)
• Shut up yer prate - (Be quiet!)
• Stay where yer to 'til I comes where yer at - (Stay put until I get there!)
• Nar-fish - (I have no fish or I didn't catch any!)

**Newfies have the shortest conversation in the world, all of two words, that mean a mouthful!**

Newfie #1 "Arn?"
Newfie #2 "Narn!"
What this means is...did you catch either one...no none at all!!