Mari Lwyd
Artwork by Benedetta Fiore. ArtStation | Instagram
Origin: Wales
Other names: the Grey Horse, Grey Mary, the Christmas Zombie Horse
Christmas isn’t always about jolly, red-clad fat guys delivering gifts through your chimney—sometimes it’s more about zombie horses showing up at your door to sing Welsh songs and exchange rude rhymes. She’s sometimes accompanied by other folk characters.
Her origins are unclear; the first recording of her appearance is in 1800, though some stories trace her beginnings to the birth of Jesus Christ. They say that she was a pregnant horse who came upon the manger, and then left in search of a new place to birth her own foul.
Today, Mari Lwyd is brought to life as a horse’s skull planted on a stick, with baubles or lights for eyes, carried by someone shrouded in a white sheet. She visits households between Christmas Day and Twelfth Day. Mari Lwyd’s party will sing a song requesting entry, and the occupants respond in kind with a song of excuses for why they cannot enter. This musical battle is called pwnco, and it goes until the occupants run out of excuses. They must then welcome the zombie horse and her party in and serve them food and ale.
The mischief doesn’t stop there! Mari Lwyd is known to run around neighing, chasing people she likes, and snapping her jaws to scare and delight children—and all the while, the leader of her little band will halfheartedly try to restrain her. The party is not completely selfish; Mari Lwyd’s followers usually sing and play music to entertain the household.
Appearances in media
Documentaries:
Mari Lwyd (2013)
Mari Lwyd (2020)
Music: