Mari helps bring in new year with old tradition

AN ANCIENT new year tradition was revived on Gower this weekend as the Gower Heritage Centre in Parkmill held a Wassail Festival.

Wassailing is an ancient tradition thought to have links to a pagan festival held to help bring on spring. The centre’s event featureed a traditional Mari Lwyd – a horse’s skull mounted on a pole leading people in a parade from house to house – with music throughout the weekend, food, drink and other entertainment.

There was also be a torchlight parade. Music came from, among others, The Brwmys band, Celtic Folk, No Obligation, Gwyr y Stoc and the Andy Tamlyn Jones Band.

Picture: Robert Melen Visitors and volunteers at The Gower Heritage Centre, near Swansea, taking part in the Wassail Festival, which included the ancient tradition of blessing apple trees, led by a Mari Lwyd.