Mari Lwyd was spotted wandering Duvall in mid January, 2026. The Welsh tradition of “The Grey Mare” is part of winter wassail, mummering, and general winter festivity. There was general curiosity and good will at the sight of a skeletal horse head entering the pubs and taverns. All were welcoming, and we drank cider at every stop- pouring a little into planters or soil where we could in thanks for the bounty of spring. Winter traditions usually hearken back to warmer times, reminding us that we will survive another cold dark season, only to return to the light with new growth and abundance when the growing season starts once more. Wassailing is a specific tradition to bless the apple trees for a good crop in the coming year, so that more cider can be made to give many cups of good cheer. The beverage has a strong history here in America, being one of the only safe liquids to drink in early colonial times. Every homestead had an apple orchard, and you can still find legacies of these fruit stands across the US. Johnny Appleseed was an early planter of this important food crop, though his seeds were wild, and often grew into non-edible varieties, which were still good for pressing into cider.
For our festivities in the local pub crawl, this first year was a sort of test, to find out the challenges of walking around with a heavy horse head, as well as the reception from our community. I’ll say, even with an important sports-ball game on in some of the establishments, Mari Lwyd was welcome. Some taverns even offered free drinks- but the gray mare is not a beggar, so good tips to the staff came none the less, with deep appreciation for the ritual of community and spirits. It was a pleasure to see all the smiles and questioning glances as the stick horse appeared at the bar. People were open to learning, and asked great questions about what was going on. Our wassail crew was small in this first year, but the general good cheer never waned from place to place.
So much gratitude to all who participated, with special thanks to Peg, who took these videos, edited them, and shared the fun from our night on the town. It was a big edge for me, being out with the skull and trying on a new tradition for our little village. I hope in future, with a little more planning, to have musicians, more singing, and greater numbers of participants. It was not advertised publicly, but next year, the plan will involve flyers, a talk with week before at our local library about the custom, and a bit more prepalnning with the establishments who wish to fold in their own celebrations. Why Mari Lwyd? Because Whales announced they were gifting the tradition to the world, with no worry of cultural appropriation, because the tradition is so old, and winter celebration is so important to our moral in the darkest time of the year.
I’ve been involved in mummering before, and love the idea of a winter celebration to get us out of our houses and into the village together. Singing and dancing through life would be our ideal, and in times where screens and passive watching have become the norm, stretching out of our normal comforts to connect together is more important than ever. I would ask each of us to seek out these opportunities where they exist, and if there’s nothing local to get involved in, create your own local traditions to celebrate. How can you contribute to community connection? What are some important songs for you culturally? Where do you go to seek out others in times of need?
Though it’s not mentioned in the known histories of Mari Lwyd, I thought of another important reason the grey mare might have been wandering through the neighborhood in times of old, going from house to house to ask for a cup of good cheer and something to eat. The mummers would know who could afford to give of their bounty, and who would need help. Houses that were struggling would not be able to share cider and bread or dry meats. Perhaps the poorer members of the community would be in the wassail group to receive the abundance from homes that could afford to be generous. These exchanges were crucial to village survival. The ancient songs speak to these rituals of shifting wealth from those that have to those in need. Generosity of spirit and material wealth has always been a part of community connection and thriving. That spirit lives on today in volunteering, philanthropy, and open hearts and minds that continue to keep camaraderie and togetherness a central part of village life. May we all take time to sit with the grey mare, asking ourselves how we can contribute to our village custom and tradition for the people.
EEC Forest Stewardship 