The old grey mare

(possibly a pseudonym for myself!) had an outing during the morning sunshine. The Mari Lwyd tradition stretches back into Welsh folklore but the custom has been revived in recent years. It involves a white-sheeted figure topped with a gaily-adorned horse skull  being led from house by a 'handler' who initiates a call and response song exchange with the person who opens the door. The business concludes with  liquid offerings or other donations. 

The origins of the custom are unclear but it's allied to other wassailing traditions that provided winter-beset communities with  an opportunity for merrymaking and charitable giving at the darkest time of the year. The revival of the Mari Lwyd reflects renewed interest in the cultural heritage of Wales and I see that flat-pack self-assembly  horse skulls are now available as an educational resource. But since I possess the real thing (two in fact) to what better use could it be put?

For anyone interested to learn more about the Mari Lwyd there's information here and I would especially recommend the b&w YouTube video on the right hand side of the web page. This dates from 1964 when the old tradition still survived in a few rural areas and it shows the doorstepping ritual being carried out with enormous solemnity - no laughs there!