Christmas Folklore: The Mari Lwyd – How to Make a Welsh Ghost-Horse (Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees EP162)

How do you build a Mari Lwyd? Where do you find a horse skull? How
heavy is it really – and how on earth do you dance with one?

This Christmas, we go behind the folklore of Wales’s most iconic
winter visitor – the Mari Lwyd – to uncover the practical secrets
rarely talked about: construction, decoration, materials,
performance, and the surprisingly tricky art of bringing a
skeletal horse to life.


Mark Rees is joined by Ronnie Kerswell-O’Hara of the National
Trust at Dinefwr, Llandeilo – a maker, performer, dancer and
seasoned guide to both Halloween ghost hunts and New Year Mari
Lwyd events. Ronnie lifts the veil on what it takes to create a
Mari from scratch, the realities of handling the skull, and the
magic of a full Mari Lwyd troupe.


Along the way, we meet a mysterious Green Man, uncover tips and
tricks from years of trial and error, and explore how a
centuries-old tradition is kept alive today through craft,
community and a little seasonal mischief.


Explore the lore this Christmas... if you dare!


 


ORDER PARANORMAL SWANSEA AND GOWER BY MARK REES:


Get Mark's latest "Ghosts of Wales" book "Paranormal Swansea and
Gower" now! You can order it online here.


 


BUY MARK REES A COFFEE:


If you'd like to support the GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES podcast
you can treat Mark to a coffee here: Mark Rees on Ko-Fi -
thank you/ diolch! 


https://ko-fi.com/markrees 


 
WHAT IS THE GHOSTS AND FOLKLORE OF WALES PODCAST WITH MARK
REES?

The Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast explores the eerie world
of Welsh ghosts, ghost stories, lore, myths, and legends.


Launched by author and journalist Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales,
Paranormal Wales) in early 2020, this weird and wonderful podcast
delves into the country's countless curious subjects, blending
decades of research from books and articles with long-lost tales
from dusty old tomes.


From "real-life" encounters with the uncanny to fantastical
adventures from the Mabinogion, new episodes are uploaded monthly
and feature everything from pesky poltergeists to fire-breathing
dragons, with the odd wicked — and not-so-wicked — witch along
the way.


Alongside the regular stories, you can expect the occasional
special guest, live ghost hunts, and all sorts of quirky
surprises from a Welsh storyteller with original ideas. Seasonal
specials include dark folklore and Gothic Halloween (Nos Calan
Gaeaf) traditions, plus everyone's favourite skull-headed
Christmas visitor, the Mari Lwyd.


Dare you explore haunted Wales? From the sublime mountains and
cascading waterfalls to bustling cities and remote farms, journey
through the paranormal and unexplained in all corners of Cymru.
Think of it as unlocking the Welsh X-Files with some tenuous
Ghostbusters references and terrible sound effects along the
way! 


Be sure to subscribe so you never miss a spooky episode.


For more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit
https://markreesonline.com/:


Mark Rees homepage

Mark Rees on social media

Books by Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales, Paranormal Wales etc.)

Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast



Until next time, nos da!