Emporiblog - Mari Lwyd
Before we get into the post, I would like to apologise for and clarify why there was no Crystal Wednesday yesterday. I didn't forget! I was just very stressed and my brain couldn't handle it but I'm back and will try to keep up with the posts!
Who or what is Mari Lwyd?
Mari Lwyd is a Welsh midwinter wassailing (the precursor to caroling) tradition. Mari Lwyd is often depicted as a horse skull on a pole with lights/baubles for eyes, a mane holly, ivy or colourful materials. A white cloak or large piece of white material also adorns the skull. However, decorations vary from family to family and village to village. Celtic runes are also painted on Mari's skull.
Where did Mari Lwyd come from?
The origins of Mari Lwyd are not straight forward as some of the traditions and history surrounding her where lost in the 19th century as Christians deemed her sinful but all was not lost!
The first written accounts of Mari Lwyd comes from the year 1800 and she has 2 translations of her name. The first one is Grey Mare or Grey Mane and this translation links Mari to the Celtic mythology of horses. The second is Grey Mary which has lead to some scholars attaching her to the Nativity story which states that a pregnant horse moves out from the stable so Mary could give birth and, the horse spent many days looking for a place to have her foal.
Mari usually makes the rounds of the village sometime between Christmas Day and the 12th Night of Christmas, often in the company of an ostler, a jester or a Lady, depending on the region. When Mari comes to a house, either Welsh songs are sung or a tradition called Pwnco is practiced. This is an exchange of rude rhymes between Mari and her company and the occupants of said house. If Mari gains entry, the household is said to be blessed with good luck for a year but, Mari has a mischievous side and will often try to steal household things or chase people she likes.
Another version of Mari's antics is that she will approach a house and her and the occupant will sing back and forth to eachother, Mari with reasons why she should be allowed in and the occupant with reasons why she can't. This will go back and forth until Mari gives up or the occupant runs out of excuses. If the occupants lose, Mari is free to enter and help herself to your food and alcohol!
Does Mari Lwyd still have a place in modern times?
Yes! Despite Christian attempts to ban her in the mid to late 1800s, Mari Lwyd traditions where found to be alive and well in both the 1930s and the 1940s! Some areas and families in Wales still hold Mari processions to this day. To help include children, some Mari's are now made from cardboard and paper.
It is worth noting that, depending on what you read online, Mari is either referred to as She or It. I chose she as I felt that it fit better and she/her is how she is referenced in The Ballard Of Mari Lwyd, written in 1941 by Vernon Watkins.
I hope you've enjoyed this post! We have one or 2 more history/folklore posts coming up!
Blessings,
C )0(
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
Comments
Post a Comment