Recently i've been looking into the tradition of the Mari Lwyd which is an old Welsh Winter Solstice ritual and looks a bit like this....
Interesting looking bleeder ain't he. From what i can gather the Mari Lywd seems to originate from a small part of Wales (namely Gwent and Glamorgan although parts of North Wales seem to have a claim on it)
The Mari Lwyd comes out at the Solstice and wanders the town or village looking for an entrance into the community. It is Death at Winter. It roams the paths and streets, scaring children, knocking on windows and doors singing it's song. This goes on until someone opens a door to it and welcomes it in. And then Death is accepted and Spring is on its way.
This custom died out many many, years ago although it does go on in certain parts as a re-enactment through the dedication of small groups (and god bless them I say!). The timing of the ritual has seemed to have shifted to New Years Eve though.
I got interested in the Mari Lwyd through reading some of M. John Harrison’s books. In quite a few of his stories he had an image of a horses skull which dominated the narrative in very subtle ways. This image really resonated with me and it was only through a bit of research that I found out that he'd based this image on the the Mari Lwyd and I suddenly recalled memories of being very young and seeing the Mari Lwyd in action (I'm Welsh by the way and have been confirming with my Mum just when the hell I might have seen a walking horses skull when I was 5.)
It's interesting how these things pop up. It’s a second reading of the Mabinogion for me and more thoughts about tradition and magic and ancestors and home etc…
So I am, of course, looking for any information on the Mari Lwyd but I’m interested to hear any other stories of similar pagan traditions and rituals.
I’m also really interested in the relationship in a person and place and history. I’m quite settled in my magical practice which has aspects of Egyptian and Indian connections and also a strong connection to where I live now. This table, this room, this flat, this city. But there is also that draw towards the history of my family which I’ve maybe neglected. Anyway, I’m drunk and thinking out loud now so…
Any thoughts? |
