Photos of the Mari Lwyd festival held at the Gower Heritage Centre over a January weekend, an ancient welsh custom.
Reviving the ancient tradition of Wassailing.
The ancient tradition of Wassailing is carried out to promote a good Apple Harvest the following autumn.
An integral part of the festivities the Mari Lwyd also takes parts in the celebrations, leading the parade with everyone making as much noise as possible to wake up the sleepy orchard.
Mari Lwyd translates as ‘Grey Mare’ and refers to the decorated horse’s skull fixed to the end of a pole with a white sheet attached to the back covering the person carrying the skull who enacts the character of the mischievous horse, trimmed with colourful reins, bells and ribbons.
The Mari Lwyd is a luck-bringing, mid-winter folk custom, which probably dates back to Celtic times.
Photos The Green Man, Morris Dancers and the Mari Lwyd leading the parade through the orchard and Musicians.
The Celts believed horse was a symbol of power and fertility and prowess on the battlefield. In Celtic mythology, animals who had the ability to cross between this world and the underworld (the Celtic Annwn) are traditionally white or grey coloured.
Liz Barry
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