Oxford Street Souling ('OSS) Tour

Souling is performing a souling play, which is a specific kind of Mummer’s play appropriate to the very beginning of November or the very end of October (All Souls eve and day).

Mumming was and is a visiting custom, meaning that groups of mummers go house to house performing their plays. Since Halloween is the time of year when Americans expect strangers to ring their doorbells, this is a perfect night to do our souling.

So every Halloween, PBM performs a traditional souling play at various houses between the Somerville Community Growing Center and Tun Hall. This route features the entire length of Oxford Street, so this tour is called the Oxford Street Souling Tour.

We start just outside the gates of the Somerville Community Growing Center, at 22 Vinal Avenue in Somerville. From there we proceed up Vinal to Highland, along Highland to School, down School to Oxford, and then east to west along the entire two block length of Oxford Street. We end at Tun Hall, the Oxford Street home of two of PBM's regulars.

Every Halloween, about 45 minutes after sunset (6:15PM or so).

We get started as soon as the AntiMorris has finished and we have locked up the growing center. The tour typically lasts about an hour and a half,  and the post-tour festivities end when the last guest leaves.

The first 'OSS Tour took place on Halloween 2003, and it has happened every Halloween since then.

As we process along the way, we'll stop wherever it looks like we’ll be welcome, and perform our play. We can perform it inside or outside, and it doesn’t take long. If you want us to perform for you, just ask us when you see us. It’s that easy.

First and foremost, you should enjoy the fun.

Please note that, in return for their play, mummers typically ask for some sort of donation (historically they often did this in large part to earn extra money). We’re not concerned with raising money, but donating is considered lucky, so we recommend a shiny penny. Mummers also enjoy a nice glass of apple cider. Yum.

Is there a party afterwards?

Afterwards, we collapse, order Chinese food, and general revelry ensues. There could even be singing. (Try and stop us, and find out.) For space reasons, the party is limited to those who tour with us and any guests invited by the hosts. So come to the tour!

At precisely 6 minutes to midnight, we turn out all the lights and gather around a single candle to hear Lynn sing all 43 verses of Tam Lin from memory.

"Tonight is Hallowe'en, lady, tomorrow Hallowday

And win me, win me, an ye will, for weel I wot ye may."

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE BALLAD Live at Passim

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