Will, the Mummers Parade grew out of the Shooters, a Philadelphia New Year's celebration where people marched through the streets shooting guns in the air. I believe they adopted the English Mumming tradition and incorporated it into the festivities. But now it's taken on a life of its own. I don't know if there's anything quite like the String Bands, Fancies, and Comics anywhere else in the world. But I hear they no longer march down Broad Street???? That would be sad.

As I recall the lyrics of "Iko Iko", the words go, "Jacomo fino ah nah nay, Jacomo fina nay," or something close. The "Jacomo fino" part would give credence to the "Giacomo is dead" interpretation. Unless it was all made up by a seventh grader. I think we have the makings of a doctoral thesis in folklore here.

Aloha,
Mark (ex-Philly kid)