Mari Llwyd: A Fading Tradition

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 have been used in sacred rites and practices all over the world.

In the ancient world, the horse was seen as a symbol of power and fertility. It was valued for its prowess on battlefields. The ancient Celtic mythology believed any animal capable of crossing between this world and the Underworld would appear white or grey in color.

There are even disagreements on what the name means. Some believe it is in regards to the ‘Virgin Mary’. Others believe it is more to do with ‘Gray Mare’.

While no one knows exactly when it started we do have a written record of it being a traditional practice. An entry about the Mari Llwyd is found in the 1800’s book A Tour through Part of North Wales by J. Evans.

But What is Mari Llwyd?

So now you know, we have no idea when it began or why it began. At least we know what is involved.

The Mari Llwyd ( in Welsh Y Fari Lwyd) is a practice of taking the skull of a horse, mounting it on a broomstick or long pole and covering it with a white sheet. Colored glass, lights or baubles are used for eyes. Streamers, holly, ivy, ribbons, bells etc. create its mane.

Not all groups used real skulls. Some groups used wooden skulls painted white and decorated. On occasion, the sheet covered the whole skull. Usually it only covered the back portion to help hide the man controlling the skull.

This disturbing figure is then paraded around by a raucous group of merry makers. From Christmas until New Years they go from door to door. When the group arrives at a home or business they begin a sing off.

Yes, I said sing off. Our Mari Llwyd group begin singing in rhyme. They finish by asking to enter the building. The house or business responds in song and denies entry. This sing off goes on back and forth until one of the groups can no longer rhyme. Regardless of who “wins”, the Mari Llwyd group is eventually brought inside for some food and drinks. The Mari Llwyd will bestow blessings upon the house or business for the coming year as the group departs.

The group was known to be mischievous. They would feign stealing and chase pretty young ladies. They become more rowdy the more they drank.

Wassailing

At its core it is a form of Wassailing. Wassailing was a tradition in which from Halloween to New Years groups would go from house to house and sing. The home owners would then reward them with cakes and drinks. Wassailers could become a little troublesome if they drank too much. They are the origin of the “trick or treat” traditions, causing trouble when they weren’t given food or drink.

A Fading Tradition

The Mari Llwyd revelers could also get out of hand once the drink began to flow. This bad behavior combined with a rise in “fire and brimstone” chapel preaching and changes in society started to spell the end for the Mari Llwyd.

Preachers believed this to be a vile and pagan tradition. Despite their best efforts, the the practice was still going strong in many villages during the early 1900’s.

There was a down turn in the practice of Mari Llwyd starting around World War II. There were still a few villages practicing into the 1960’s. Just when it seemed like the end of Mari Llwyd, several Welsh groups looking to revive old traditions and update them where necessary latched onto Mari Llwyd.

Mari Llwyd Today

Today in many villages and towns in Wales, there can be found decorated horse skulls and merry makers breathing new life into Mari Llwyd. Gone are the days of drunken revelry, mischief and girl chasing. Now it is a fun gathering to celebrate an ancient tradition.

Interested in other scary or weird Yule Tide traditions? Read about a child devouring witch here. A giant Yule Cat? Check it out here.