The Mari Llwyd is a strange tradition. Various versions of this tradition have been found around the British Isles. It is, however, a fading tradition. But what is a Mari Llwyd? Let’s find out. Origin No one is quite sure when or even where the custom of dressing up a horse skull began. Animal skulls …
Last week we learned about Gryla, an Icelandic witch who eats troublesome children. This post will cover her associates: the Yule Cat and the Yule Lads. Yule Cat Beginning in the autumn, the Yule Cat would spy on those preparing for the winter. Animals needed harvested and their meat smoked and stored. Wool sheared in …
This week begins Country Fox’s exploration of Dark Christmas Traditions from around the world. The next few blogs will introduce readers to Yule and Christmas figures that strike fear into the hearts of children everywhere. This weeks terrifying figure is Gryla, the Christmas Witch. Who is Gryla? Gryla is a fierce giantess who can be …
Country Fox has been quiet the last couple weeks. That’s because we have been busy doing DIY: Wainscoting. What is wainscoting? It is a type of paneling that originated during the 17th and 18th centuries. The word wainscot is derived from the Middle Low German wagenschot as well as the Dutch wageschot meaning ‘wall-board’. It …