Mr Punch derives from the Italian character of Pulcinella, who in England later became know as Punchinello. He is a later manifestation of the Lord of Misrule and Trickster figures of deep-rooted mythologies. Punch’s wife was originally called “Joan.”

The figure who later became Mr. Punch made his first recorded appearance in England on 9 May 1662, which is traditionally reckoned as Punch’s UK birthday. Samuel Pepys First observed a  show featuring an early version of the Punch character in Covent Garden in London. The puppet show was performed by an Italian puppet showman, Pietro Gimonde, a.k.a. “Signor Bologna.” Pepys described the event in his diary as “an Italian puppet play, that is within the rails there, which is very pretty.”

Punch and Judy draws massive crowd

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