Though largely out of fashion today, mumming plays were a staple of Victorian Christmas parties. This theatrical both entertains and indoctrinates, fostering a sense of national pride amongst the performers and audience members. St. George of England, St. Andrew of Scotland, St. David of Wales, and St. Patrick of Ireland are the heroes of the piece, showing the power and piety of the British Empire. Indeed, the mumming play ends with a chorus of “Rule, Britannia” and a collective shout of “God Save the Queen,” perfectly encapsulating the typical Victorian English Christmas.
