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Mari Lwyd - Immemorial Veil
Mari Lwyd is a Welsh legend, a creature that appears around 25 December and the days that follow during the period known as “Christmas” to mortals. This creature, which has become a true tradition, is a horse's skull decorated with ribbons, or holly and ivy, and draped in a pristine white veil. Its eyes are pieces of coloured glass to bring a little life to it, but the original creature did not care about this artifice.
Tradition has it that mortals create a substitute for the creature and accompany it in a small troupe to visit the inhabitants, one of the members of the troupe hidden under the white veil of the horse skull puppet. The troupe and ‘Mari Lwyd’ then sing a verse asking to come in and have a drink, but the resident must refuse with a sung verse and explain the reasons for their refusal. This is followed by a short singing contest in which the resident usually admits defeat, allowing Mari Lwyd and her troupe to enter. This is said to bring good luck for the coming year. Refusal is therefore quite rare, even though the puppet frightens children by snapping its jaws.
Like many legends, this one has an origin.
And that origin is the first Mari Lwyd.
Dear readers, I must confess to a misuse of language that I regularly employ when the word ‘immortal’ appears in these pages. With exceptional longevity and resistance to most diseases, compared to humans for whom mortality is the only absolute factor, the ‘immortals’ described here are more variable... But never completely invincible.
Such is the case with the first Mari Lwyd. A mischievous creature, frightening in appearance but nevertheless cheerful and warm-hearted, according to mortal standards of sociability. With the passing of time, the real Mari Lwyd died, perhaps killed by mortals who believed that their religion took precedence over the lives of unique beings such as her, thus relegating her to the role of a pagan myth.
Unfortunately, I do not know the true circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the first Mari Lwyd, with whom I had a good relationship.
But once a year, her immemorial white veil comes to life and finds its way to the manor, taking possession of a mortal for a few days, and we exchange a few verses before inviting her to stay for the night.
Tradition has it that mortals create a substitute for the creature and accompany it in a small troupe to visit the inhabitants, one of the members of the troupe hidden under the white veil of the horse skull puppet. The troupe and ‘Mari Lwyd’ then sing a verse asking to come in and have a drink, but the resident must refuse with a sung verse and explain the reasons for their refusal. This is followed by a short singing contest in which the resident usually admits defeat, allowing Mari Lwyd and her troupe to enter. This is said to bring good luck for the coming year. Refusal is therefore quite rare, even though the puppet frightens children by snapping its jaws.
Like many legends, this one has an origin.
And that origin is the first Mari Lwyd.
Dear readers, I must confess to a misuse of language that I regularly employ when the word ‘immortal’ appears in these pages. With exceptional longevity and resistance to most diseases, compared to humans for whom mortality is the only absolute factor, the ‘immortals’ described here are more variable... But never completely invincible.
Such is the case with the first Mari Lwyd. A mischievous creature, frightening in appearance but nevertheless cheerful and warm-hearted, according to mortal standards of sociability. With the passing of time, the real Mari Lwyd died, perhaps killed by mortals who believed that their religion took precedence over the lives of unique beings such as her, thus relegating her to the role of a pagan myth.
Unfortunately, I do not know the true circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the first Mari Lwyd, with whom I had a good relationship.
But once a year, her immemorial white veil comes to life and finds its way to the manor, taking possession of a mortal for a few days, and we exchange a few verses before inviting her to stay for the night.
Category Artwork (Digital) / Transformation
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 3229 x 1141px
File Size 1.96 MB
Listed in Folders
Surprisingly, this love of alcoholic beverages is shared by Hageshiiomo, even though he does not celebrate the end of the year as they do in the West. When this fact was mentioned, he replied that no matter what the occasion, celebrating it with a good spirit (liquor) is always a good idea.
I would add, however, that this is until the consequences of the next day, when he complains that his horns have decided to grow into his own skull.
I would add, however, that this is until the consequences of the next day, when he complains that his horns have decided to grow into his own skull.
Thank you for this ode of compliments. Your support touches me.
(OOC : I admit that it's always fun to look up ancient languages, see their ‘classical’ calligraphy, and draw inspiration from them to recreate something that is inspired by them but uses letters from the Latin alphabet ^^)
(OOC : I admit that it's always fun to look up ancient languages, see their ‘classical’ calligraphy, and draw inspiration from them to recreate something that is inspired by them but uses letters from the Latin alphabet ^^)
The white veil for the Mari Lwyd makes the two of you appear almost like Ying and Yang.
So, the original being has somehow ceased to exist, but... the veil retains some powers from them? I suppose the temporary, hmmh, lets say "echo" of the original is unable to tell you what happened to them while visiting during times of Yule?
So, the original being has somehow ceased to exist, but... the veil retains some powers from them? I suppose the temporary, hmmh, lets say "echo" of the original is unable to tell you what happened to them while visiting during times of Yule?
The contrast is particularly striking, visually of course, but also in terms of certain very opposing values.
It seems that the spirit of Mari Lwyd is reinforced by the end-of-year period. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, only to return to the ashes a few days later. However, the reason for her disappearance has never been clear, even when asked directly. She would respond with a question, wondering why anyone would worry about a past that no longer existed when the celebration was happening here and now. She had her logic, and understanding her tacit refusal, I never pursued the matter further.
It seems that the spirit of Mari Lwyd is reinforced by the end-of-year period. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, only to return to the ashes a few days later. However, the reason for her disappearance has never been clear, even when asked directly. She would respond with a question, wondering why anyone would worry about a past that no longer existed when the celebration was happening here and now. She had her logic, and understanding her tacit refusal, I never pursued the matter further.
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