The Mari Lwyd

The Mari Lwyd (Welsh: Y Fari Lwyd) is a wassailing folk custom found in South Wales. The tradition entails the use of an eponymous hobby horse which is made from a horse's skull mounted on a pole and carried by an individual hidden under a sackcloth.

The custom has been in existence far before its first written recording in 1800, with subsequent accounts of it being produced into the early twentieth century. According to these, the Mari Lwyd was a tradition performed at Christmas and New Years by groups of men who would accompany the horse on its travels around the local area. Although the makeup of such groups varied, they typically included an individual to carry the horse, a leader, and individuals dressed as stock characters such as Punch and Judy. The men would carry the Mari Lwyd to local houses, where they would request entry through song. The householders would be expected to deny them entry, again through song, and the two sides would continue their responses to one another in this manner. If the householders eventually relented, the team would be permitted entry and given food and drink. Even though she may look intimidating, the Mari Lwyd is meant to be a luck blessing character. They can also go as "Mari Beasts" or "Mari Osses". Just another fun yuletide character that demonstrates the diversity of Christmas and New years customs around the globe.