This is an old Welsh custom which probably originated in South Wales, similar to ‘First Footing’ at New Year. A horse’s skull (or model of one) was carried from house to house by the Mari Lwyd group. The group knocked the door and requested entry for food and drink. A singing competition began between the group and the people of the house. Eventually, the Mari group were let in and fed and the singing and fun continued. After the group blessed the household, they would move off to the next house.
Aberystwyth – A Mari Lwyd was carried Use the hotspots to find out about some of the areas where the Mari Lwyd is being revived… Cowbridge – The Mari Lwyd group here now use English language verses. out as part of Millennium celebrations.
This community has the strongest connection to the custom of the Mari Lwyd. It was one of the last to stop when the custom went out of fashion and one of the first to start up again. To see it you would need to visit the Old House pub at about 2 pm on New Year’s Day. Before his death in 1997, Cynwyd Evans, one of the original Mari Lwyd party, would hold the pub single-handed inside the Old House as the Mari tried to enter. If you pass the Old House, look at the pub sign outside; it is Cynwyd's image you will see there, holding the Mari's reins. Return to map
The Chepstow Mari Lwyd is one of the most recent to start up again. It happens early January at the town’s border with England. The meeting of the Welsh Mari Lwyd group with a group of English Wassailers at Chepstow bridge is thought to be unique. The two groups gather and greet each other, exchanging flags in a gesture of friendship and unity. The Welsh then invite the English to join them in Wales for the Mari Lwyd. Return to map
Llantrisant's Mari Lwyd custom was revived nearly two and half decades ago by members of the Llantrisant Folk Club. It is carried out in a similar style to the way it was being performed when it originally died out, probably at the start of the Second World War. The Llantrisant head was not a real skull but was made of wood, bandaged right down to the snout to make it look like a genuine horse's head. A Llantrisant local remembers his father keeping the Mari in the cupboard under the stairs. How do you think you would have felt if you had found it there? . . . Return to map
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