Solstice Traditions

I love traditions/celebrations and have been spending some time researching different types of Christmas and solstice traditions. 

Here is a tradition I found from Newfoundland which holds roots based in the old Roman celebrations of the solstice.
"Mummers, also called ‘Jannies’, have been a tradition in Newfoundland since colonists from England brought the custom at the beginning of the seventeenth century.  Mummer comes from the old French ‘momer’ which means to wear a mask; pantomime.

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.  For a time the old tradition of "Mummering", or "Jannying" as it is sometimes called, seemed to fade, especially in the larger centers of Newfoundland. " 

This sounds familiar to me as the ancient frocophone tradition called  Mi-Carême (mid lent) practiced in Acadia (the maritime provinces)  My grandparents on my dad's side were from this area and just about every time they dressed up for Halloween they made up costumes that looked alot like the photos I've found of the Mummers and Mi-Carême.  I wonder if they ever celebrated this.  I've talked to Crystal and she seems interested in hosting a party like this! woo hoo!