Christmas Tradition - The Mari Lwyd
The strange Mari Lwyd.
Christmas Eve is upon us, children’s eye’s are sparkling with excitement, last minute preparations will be put in place in readiness for tomorrows Christmas Day meal. A glass of milk (or perhaps something stronger,) will be put on the fireplace, along with a mince pie, and maybe even a carrot for Rudolf. A small compensation for all the big Fella’s hard work.
There are many customs around this festive time of year, but amongst the most unusual is that of the Mari Lwyd. This tradition was primarily practiced in southern Wales, it is considered to be a form of Wassailing, of the home-visiting kind, rather than the Orchard Wassail. The home-visiting wassail is the practice of people going door-to-door, singing and offering a drink from the wassail bowl in exchange for gifts.
The Mari Lwyd itself consists of a horse's skull that is decorated with ribbons and affixed to a pole; to the back of the skull is attached a white sheet, which drapes down concealing the individual carrying it. Often the horses jaw is hinged, allowing it to open or close.
The custom was first recorded in the nineteenth century, it would occur between Christmas Eve and New Years. The name Mari Lwyd is thought to mean either Grey Mare or Gray Mary, and the Mari Lwyd could represent either a ghostly horse from the underworld, or a pregnant mare evicted from the stable in Bethlehem, to make room for Mary and Joseph.
The excitement began at dusk and lasted well into the night, the Mari Lwyd would travel the district accompanied by four to seven people dressed in brightly coloured rags and ribbons, sometimes members of the group would dress up as Punch and Judy, there was often a Merryman playing a musical instrument, they were usually led by a smartly dressed man.
They would approach a house, bang on the door, and a musical debate or battle would ensue between the occupants and those seeking entrance, with Mari’s group asking to be let in, and the owners making excuses. This was called a pwnco. I give an example of the opening lines to a Pwnco here:
Wel dyma ni'n dwad .
Gy-feillion di-niwad .
I ofyn am gennad .
I ofyn am gennad .
I ofyn am gennad i ganu.
This Translates to:
Well here we come.
Innocent friends.
To ask leave.
To ask leave.
To ask leave to sing.
Once inside, the entertainment continued with the Mari Lwyd running around neighing and snapping its jaws, creating havoc, frightening children (maybe even a few adults) while the Leader pretended to try to control it and The Merryman played music and entertained the householders. Who in turn would provide food and drink.
In 1941 poet Vernon Watkins published a poem entitled ‘Ballad of the Mari Lwyd,’ the poem received much praise, here it is:
Mari Lwyd, Lwyd Mari
A sacred thing through the night they carry.
Betrayed are the living, betrayed the dead
All are confused by a horse's head.
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog, I greatly appreciate it, and hope I have provided you with some pleasure. I do believe I hear the sound of sleigh bells on the wind, now is surely the time to retire to bed. Good Night my friends and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
