Well, with less than 10 days to go before the Jolly old fat man does annual breaking and entering spree across the globe, I thought we could have a little fun and share and highlight some of the lesser-known Christmas traditions and characters – and by that I mean the cool ones that look gnarly and have somewhat supernatural stories or appearances.
First up….
“Mari Lwyd” or otherwise known as the “Grey Mare” (which, quite frankly, is easier to say) from Welsh traditions and folklore.
The Mari Lwyd is a Welsh tradition in which a horse’s skull is mounted on a stick and draped in a white cloak; it is usually decorated with bells and ribbons. A person will hide underneath and operate the horse’s movements. The horse is often accompanied by a group dressed as jesters or characters such as Punch and Judy.
In the days leading up to Christmas, Mari Lwyd will go from door to door trying to gain entry. This is done through ‘pwnco’, a competitive exchange of rude or witty rhymes and verses exchanged between them and the residents inside in order to gain entry. Once the group has gained entry, they will cause mild mischief and be given sweets and treats.
While having a skeletal horse head singing at your front door is far removed from the family-friendly traditions we are used to, Mari Lwyd is celebrated as a harmless character who is celebrated for banishing away the bad luck from the previous year, so you’d be far better off letting them in, rather than turning them away.
Of course, if you’ve experienced the Mari Lwyd traditions over Christmas, please let us know in the comments.
-Sam 
