A trip to South Wales reveals a tradition lost to time in which a horse’s head (skull) was set on a pole and followed house to house with singing for food and drink (wassailing). The translation for this community fete seems to be ‘gray mare’ or it could ‘blessed Mary’ bc of the wintry times it’s enacted. I’m betting on the former.
For local flavor let’s sample a Celtic verse: “Mari Lwyd” by Carreg Lafar. Huh? (Take it from me, the songs about this oddness are mostly NOT English.)
Eglish Acoustic Collective seem to codeswitch in their “Mari Lwyd.” Might be a manger in there.
“Wassailing With The Mari Lwyd” by Sloar+Mordor gives a prog rock side to the hand out beggary.
S.J. Tucker sings to “Welcome Mari Lwyd” with New Age picking and thumping. Open that door, man!
House Made of Dawn is more threatening in the give and take of their “Mari Lwyd.” Stale bread!
A Silly Little Time takes the time to warn all outsiders of the “Mari Lwyd.” Scary stuff, but old folk Celtic so also pretty.