Mari Lwyd

Description

This was the name most generally applied in Wales to the horde-figure formally carried from door to door by wassail-singing groups during the Christmas season. The attendant ritual began with the singing of traditional stanzas by the Mari Lwyd group at the door, soliciting both permission to sing and entry into the house, and issuing a challenge to a versifying contest. Next followed the pwnco, the debate conducted to the same music in a combination of traditional and impromptu stanzas between a member of the group and an opponent within the house. This usually amounted to heavy leg-pulling in which the contestants mocked each other's singing, drunkenness, niggardliness, etc. Victory in the debate would ensure admission into the house for the Mari Lwyd group, to partake of cakes and ale and perhaps collect a money gift as well. In at least some cases, after the end of the debate, the group would sing additional stanzas introducing its individual members and finally, after entertaining the occupants of the house, it would deliver a farewell song.