CHRISTMAS IN WALES: A THREAD

"One of the most curious customs which was once in vogue about Christmas time was the procession known as Mari Lwyd, a man wearing the skeleton of a horse’s head decked with ribbons and rosettes."
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#FolkloreThursday #Wales #Christmas

I'll be updating this thread with lots of Welsh folklore as we count down to the Christmas, sources to follow. The Mari Lwyd photo above gets used a lot this time of year - it was originally taken for one of my stories in South Wales Evening Post many moons ago. Nadolig llawen!

The man - wearing the skeleton of a horse’s head decked with ribbons and rosettes - was enveloped in a large white sheet and proceeded round the houses. The Mari Lwyd was followed by a merry procession, singing songs, playing merry pranks and collecting #Christmas boxes.
#wales

The Mari Lwyd gang would sing a jolly ditty, such as:

“Mari Lwyd lawen,
Sy’n dod o Bendarren,” etc.
(Merry grey Mary,
Who comes from Pendarren etc.)

Good news for those struggling to find a horse's skull:
"When a real skeleton (for the Mari Lwyd) could not be got, it was customary to make one of straw and rags."