Winter Blessings and Beauties, Day 45: The Mari Lwyd

 

The Mari Lwyd is a Welsh winter folk custom related to Mumming and Wassailing. 'Mari Lwyd' means 'Grey Mare' in Welsh, and the Mari herself is a hobby horse made from a horse's skull on a pole. The skull is decorated with ribbons or strips of cloth forming a mane. The eyes usually have pieces of glass or baubles inserted into them and sometimes the skull is painted or otherwise embellished. The jaw is often wired so that the operator of the Mari, who is hidden beneath a draped cloth can 'snap' the teeth at people. 

Traditionally, around Christmas and New Year - the timing wasn't exact, varying  between communities - the Mari, accompanied by her Handler and a group of others including musicians and sometimes stock characters such as 'Punch' and 'Judy', would travel around the village, stopping to sing outside each house. The song requested that they be allowed to enter, but the inhabitants of the house would reply with reasons why this couldn't happen. The Mari's party would then sing another verse about why they should be allowed entry, and the inhabitants would again rebuff them. This battle of wits was known as the 'pwnco' (pronounced poon-KOH) and it would go on until the household eventually gave in and welcomed in the Mari and her supporters with food and drink.    

These photos of the Mari Lwyd were taken a few years ago at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Although the custom of the Mari Lwyd had declined, in recent years there has been a revival and there seem to be more Mari Lwyd events every year. There is now even an annual gathering of Mari Lwyds at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic at Boscastle in Cornwall.   

The origins of the Mari Lwyd are obscure. Some think she dates back into the mists of prehistory, others argue she is a mere couple of hundred years old. Whatever the truth of her origins, she is a potent and magical figure. Mysterious, frightening, mischievous, anarchic, she has connections to horse Goddesses like Epona and Rhiannon; to the mysterious chalk hill figure horses such as the Uffington Horse; and to other folk horses like the Padstow 'Obby 'Oss. Let us also not forget there is a longstanding strong taboo against eating horseflesh in the British Isles. Clearly the horse is an important and magical creature within British folklore, and the Mari reflects this.

Winter Blessings and Beauties, Day 45

The Mari Lwyd

Learn more about the Mari Lwyd (there is much to be found simply by Googling 'Mari Lwyd') and other traditions of Hobby Horses and Hooden Horses. To connect with her spirit, try drawing or painting her image, or compose poetry dedicated to her. Place an image of her on your altar at this time of year, and treat her with respect and deference.