You are there at the inception of the Mari Lwyd, maybe in the 1800s, maybe in the more distant past. You hear strangers knock at your door. They sing a polyphonic chant, then go silent. You stay silent, listening. Then your door budges, and they’ve let themselves in. You are taken aback as the Mari Lwyd dances and bobs in the middle of the pack, clacking its jaws. Its tassles fling side-to-side and its hollow eyes cast a gilded gleam. You’re stunned and ill-prepared. The visitors gently raid your kitchen and drain your cask of ale. Eventually you all make merry. The visitors grab their caps and coats and make for the door, and the Mari Lwyd, satisfied, bobs and twinkles out into the night.
It might be that the Mari Lwyd is a personification of Winter. This ritual occurs near the Solstice? Maybe by accepting it (Winter) into the house and then sending it on it's way, the Mari Lwyd celebration was a ritual accepting Winter and encouraging it to peaceably leave, so that Summer may return.
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
You are there at the inception of the Mari Lwyd, maybe in the 1800s, maybe in the more distant past. You hear strangers knock at your door. They sing a polyphonic chant, then go silent. You stay silent, listening. Then your door budges, and they’ve let themselves in. You are taken aback as the Mari Lwyd dances and bobs in the middle of the pack, clacking its jaws. Its tassles fling side-to-side and its hollow eyes cast a gilded gleam. You’re stunned and ill-prepared. The visitors gently raid your kitchen and drain your cask of ale. Eventually you all make merry. The visitors grab their caps and coats and make for the door, and the Mari Lwyd, satisfied, bobs and twinkles out into the night.
It might be that the Mari Lwyd is a personification of Winter. This ritual occurs near the Solstice? Maybe by accepting it (Winter) into the house and then sending it on it's way, the Mari Lwyd celebration was a ritual accepting Winter and encouraging it to peaceably leave, so that Summer may return.
skull masks are fun