Contrary Life

Contrary Life is a website covering quirky events across the UK.

  • Home
  • About
  • Events by region
    • North East
    • North West
    • Yorkshire
    • East Midlands
    • West Midlands
    • East
    • London
    • South East
    • South West
    • Scotland
    • Northern Ireland
    • Wales
Home > FEATURED-CONTENT > The Chepstow Wassail & Mari Lwyd

The Chepstow Wassail & Mari Lwyd

By Caroline King - January 3, 2013Posted in : FEATURED-CONTENT

Chepstow Wassail and Mari Lwyd

The Mari Lwyd (grey mare) is carried by the Mari group

When: 19th January 2013, from 2.30pm

Where: Chepstow

£: Free (except the Ceilidh which costs £5)

What is it?

The Chepstow Wassail and Mari Lwyd is a very popular family friendly annual event of old traditions, strange customs, capers, and weird creatures.

The Wassail is an ancient tradition of blessing apple trees and asking for a good harvest in the coming year with lots of singing, dancing and  cider drinking.  The whole procedure is organised by The Wassail Butler and this year there will be three wassails.

The Green Man at Chepstow Wassail and Mari Lwyd

Look out for the appearance of the Green Man

The Mari Lwyd is an ancient South Wales custom of taking a horse skull dressed in a shroud from house to house… and pub to pub.   It is a  kind of First Footing Tradition (bringing good fortune).  The Mari Lwyd (grey mare) is carried by the Mari group who try to gain entry to the house/pub by singing and riddle telling.   There are usually around 6 – 8 Mari Lwyd groups from all over Wales, a Nottingham horse tradition called ”Poor Awd Oss” and a Gloucestershire tradition called ”The Broad” which is a bull’s head.  And if that isn’t enough The Green Man sometimes turns up from the deepest part of the Forest of Dean.

The Meeting on the Border is known as ”The Oldest New Tradition in Wales”.  At around 6.30pm The English Wassailers and The Welsh Mari Lwyders come together at the border (middle of the old iron bridge) exchange flags and drink from the Wassail Bowl.  They wish each other Happy New Year with much dancing and celebration.  Then the group (usually around 500 people) head back into Wales for The Mari Lwyd ceremony and finally The Ceilidh.

More info: www.thewidders.co.uk

Related Posts

  • Blessing the boats in Whitby
  • Cilwendeg Shell House Hermitage

Tagged With: Chepstow Wassail & Mari Lwyd, Family events, Free events, Monmouthshire events, Wales, Wassailing events

Curiosity of the Week

Woodhenge, Stonehenge’s lesser-known neighbour
Woodhenge - ©English Heritage, Historic England Photo Library

You have heard of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, but have you heard of its lesser known neighbour, Woodhenge? Find out more in our latest Curiosity of the Week…

Top Story

Fakes, forgeries and misinformation at Royal Society Late
Dragon Fish - The Royal Society Lates in March

Next month, the Royal Society’s Late event mixes tomfoolery with science as it tackles fake news and hoaxes…

What are you looking for today?

  • Alternative Sport
  • Art
  • Cabaret and Circus
  • Cinema
  • Classes, Workshops & Talks
  • Club Night
  • Comedy
  • Dance
  • Exhibitions and Installations
  • Fairs and Markets
  • Festival
  • Food & Drink
  • Heritage and History
  • Interview
  • Literature
  • Museum
  • Music
  • Nature and Outdoors
  • Review
  • Science and Technology
  • Theatre
  • Walks and Tours

Sign up to our Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 · Contrary Life