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| Figure 1: Mari Lwyd celebration in Wales (Image Source: The Daily Post) |
With another holiday season is in full swing it seems only fitting that the various unique holiday traditions celebrated around the globe be discussed. This blog post will introduce you to the end of year celebration of Mari Lywd, which is celebrated throughout southern Wales. This odd but fun loving tradition almost disappeared, but it is making a comeback throughout the country and taking off across the globe.
Mari Lwyd, which translates to “Grey Mare”, “Holy Mary”, or “The Grey Mary”, is celebrated throughout December and sometimes into January. The celebration involves an individual donning a decorated horse skull, adorned with colorful ribbons and bells, and covered in a sheet (Figure 1). This individual is often accompanied by mummers and traditional dancers. The group goes door to door initiating ritual “battles” involving pwnco, which is made up of poetry, rhyme, and riddles, often centering around insults and tongue-in-cheek statements, with homeowners. The “combatants” engage in these wars of words for however long they wish. Ultimately the goal of the Mari Lwyd and her companions is to enter the home for food and drink, and the homeowners comply in order to have good luck bestowed upon them.
The origins of the Mari Lwyd celebration are unknown, but it is known to be pagan tradition dating back at least 3000 years ago. The Mari Lwyd is believed to be a representation of a death god, and some associate it with Rhiannon, a pagan horse goddess and Queen of the Underworld. Its pagan associations were why it was almost completely abolished, but a recent resurgence of the holiday among southern Welsh citizens has brought it back. It has grown in popularity ever since, and it is beginning to be celebrated in other parts of the world, primarily out of interest and fascination.
Bibliography
Connaughton, Marybeth. Ok Whatever. 23 December 2020. Electronic. 16 November 2021.
Leaver, Joel. "The terrifying and weird tradition of the Mari Lwyd which is celebrated every December." Daily Post UK 6 December 2018. Electronic.
Mari Arts. Mari Lwyd: The Magic Of The Mari... 3 September 2015. Electronic. 16 November 2021.
National Museum Wales. Christmas customs: The Mari Lwyd. 14 June 2014. Electronic. 16 November 2021.
Rummel, Rachel. Ritual & Medicinal: Mari Lwyd. N.D. <https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/mari-lwyd-horse-skull-wales-wassailing>.
3 comments:
I think this is an interesting tradition. I have never heard of it before, but I wonder how all of these ideas came together to make this tradition. I also wonder what makes the homeowner want to invite the people in for food and drinks. Do they base the invite on the quality of the battle material, or do they do invite them in solely for good luck? I know how important traditions are to cultures, so I am glad that this tradition has made a comeback and did not vanish.
McKenzie Williams
Tyler Roe said...
I have many questions. Do the participants use a dead horse skull? How many mummers and dancers accompany a person? Is it the homeowner's responsibility to provide the food and drinks? Inviting someone into your home after they insult you seems odd to me but I think it involves a level of humility to do that.
Tyler, thank you for your questions. I had actually considered including some of this information in the original post, but made editorial decisions not to. Regarding the horse's skull, it can be a real skull or a fake one. Due to either ethical reasons or costs associated with getting a real skull there are several paper horse skulls marketed for this celebration. The mummer and dancer numbers vary. From my understanding of New Foundland Mummering traditions (based on information provided by a friend from the region) most times this is a group of friends or people who know each other who do these activities, but I can see how they may grow to include individuals who do not know each other similar to pub crawl events here in the US. Yes, it is the homeowner's responsibility to provide the food and drink if they opt to participate. Because this is an annual tradition people often prepare ahead of time, similarly to individuals who buy candy for trick or treaters at Halloween (or do not, if they opt not to participate).
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