Handmade Mari Lwyd Welsh traditional Tree decoration

Handmade Mari Lwyd Tree Decoration. A beautiful symbol of Welsh history to adorn your tree!

Mari is taken around a village traditionally, often between Christmas Day and Twelfth Night, She is dressed with festive lights and decorations, and is usually accompanied by an ostler, and in some regions like Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valleys, other folk characters like a jester and a Lady.

When the group get to a house, they sing Welsh language songs or more traditionally indulge in a ritual called pwnco: an exchange of cheeky naughty rhymes with the person who lives there. If the Mari and her gang get entry, the household is said to have good luck for the year. The Mari is well-known to be mischievous.

Each decoration is completely unique so colours of beads, bells and ribbons may alter. But generally on the colour theme of red, green, golds and silver and the main head never will change.