Although most of us have long celebrated the arrival of the new year, some communities across Wales continue to postpone their celebrations until the 13th January keeping true to the Julian calendar abolished in 1752. One such community is Dinas Mawddwy, over recent years the community has resurrected the tradition of the Mari Lwyd. Like so many other traditions, the Mari Lwyd is steeped in pre-Christian superstition and reflects the importance of the horse. The Mari Lwyd is a horse’s skull covered with a cloth and ribbons placed on a pole enabling the person underneath to open and close the jaw. Preparing the skull is a painstakingly slow process as it’s immersed in lime for three months before being cleaned and decorated.
The Mari would traditionally be led around houses or pubs in the area, light-hearted verses would be sung to ask for entry and then the owner would answer the visitors. It was deemed unlucky to refuse entry. The group would then entertain the household in return for food and refreshments.
A clip recorded in Llangynwyd in the 1960s can be seen on the People’s Collection Wales website along with collections of images of the Mari Lwyd, but if you would like to experience it for yourself why not pop to Dinas Mawddwy on Saturday evening to join the celebrations? If you have similar events in your area that you would like to publicised on the People’s Collection Wales website please send the details via the contact form on the website.