In England, Christmastime brings a tradition known as wassailing. This ancient practice involves people traveling from home to home with a wassail bowl; at each door, they sang and offered a drink from the wassail bowl in exchange for a present. In Wales, an interesting variation on wassailing arose, involving a creepy decorated horse, songs and poetry, and, of course, some alcohol.
Source: (Reddit/colorized).
Mari Lwyd originated in Wales and occurs between Christmas and Twelfth Night, although the exact date varies from village to village. In some villages, it happens for a number of consecutive nights. The name itself may translate to Gray Mare, a translation that connects it to the pale horses from Celtic and British mythology. These horses have the ability to cross into the underworld. However, there is another possible translation that some scholars have connected to the nativity story: Grey Mary. The story goes that, when Mary came to the stables to give birth, a pregnant mare was sent away and then roamed the land to find a place to birth her foal. Although the first written record of it is in a book published in 1800, A Tour Through Part of North Wales by J. Evans, the exact origins of the Welsh tradition are unknown, and many believe it has its roots in pre-Christian pagan traditions. Others argue that the lack of evidence points to later origins.
The Horse's Skull Made It Different From Other Traditions
The Mari Lwyd shares similarities with other customs throughout Britain, such as the Hoodening in Kent and the Old Tup in Derbyshire. With these similar traditions, groups of poor people traveled the countryside entertaining to beg for food and money during the winter, and, in Wales, using a dead horse’s skull added a creepy, menacing element, or, perhaps, an element to add to the entertainment.
Creating The Mari Lwyd Was Part Of The Fun
Photograph of the Mari Lwyd from Llangynwyd, Glamorgan, taken between c.1910 and 1914. Source: (Wikipedia/colorized).
The Mari Lwyd herself is a decorated horse skull although the horse’s skull could be made of wood or paper as well. The skull sports a mane of streamers or holly and ivy. The decorations for the Mari Lwyd depend on the materials available to construct her. Her skull is attached to a pole, which a person holds to control the skull, in some cases, maneuvering the jaw. The person, who animates the skull’s mischievous nature, is hidden by a white cloak extending from the skull. The animated skull can snap its bony jaw at people. Mari Lwyd does not travel alone as she is accompanied by a “hostler” (an individual who works at an inn to look after guests’ horses). The hostler acts as a sort of handler for the “wild beast.” Additionally, she is usually accompanied by other folk characters like jesters and they, too, become part of the entertainment.
There Was Poetry In The Tradition
Source: (Vintage Everyday/colorized).
Traditionally, the Mari Lwyd begins her journeying at dusk, continuing into the night. As the Mari Lwyd travels from house to house, the group accompanying the horse’s skull sings Welsh language songs or wassails. As the party approaches a house, they may sing a verse to gain admittance. This leads the inhabitants to offer excuses as to why they cannot come in. More traditionally, the traveling group engages in an exchange of verses, which could be ribald, mocking, and rude, and was called a pwnco. After the end of the pwnco, which seemed to be akin to a rap battle or a poetry slam, the group is invited into the house to have a drink before they move on to the next. Once they are in the house, the entertainment continues as the Mari Lwyd behaves like a horse, neighing and running around, with the “hostler” trying to restrain the wild beast.
It Is Still Practiced In Some Places
Source: (Vintage Everyday/colorized).
While the people who are traveling with the Mari Lwyd are rewarded with beverages, the homeowners get something in return; according to some beliefs, if the Mari Lwyd was allowed in the house, even though she might be mischievous and terrifying (especially for children), she would bring good luck to the household for the year. The tradition began to decline in the 20th century, although it was still practiced in some areas and was commemorated in Welsh poet Vernon Watkins’ 1941 poem, “The Ballad of the Mari Lwyd.” In 2000, the town of Aberystwyth organized “The World’s Largest Mari Lwyd” to welcome in the millennium.
