This isn’t your father’s Christmas caroling.
But in Wales, it could be your great-grandfather’s.
On December 7, a very ancient and unusual winter tradition will be coming to Patchogue. Villagers might notice a strange visitor accompanying a procession of merry carolers as they romp their way through the bars along Main Street.
She is known as the Mari Lwyd (pronounced “Mary Loo-weed,”) Welsh for “grey mare.” The Mari is a horse skull mounted to the end of a pole. The carrier hides under a white sheet, while a spring-loaded jaw allows him/her to snap at brave pedestrians who inquire too closely. Bells and ribbons can be added to the Mari and lights are often placed in the eye sockets.
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It is a Welsh custom, but variations on the Mari can be seen throughout regions where Celtic culture has survived. The Mari is a solar symbol; a vestige from a time when the horse goddess Epona was worshipped throughout the British Isles. Her presence marks the passage of the dark days of winter and the return of the sun.
The practice of Christmas caroling traces its roots to the ritualized begging seen in the Middle Ages, when it was known as wassailing. A convoy of cavorting merrymakers leads the Mari to pubs, at which point a series of riddles and rhymes are exchanged with those inside. Eventually, the doors would open and the wassailers would enter, where they are offered food and drink. In return for their hospitality, those inside receive a blessing from the Mari, as her appearance is a token of good luck for the coming New Year.
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With our Mari Lwyd, we will sing and wassail our way through three excellent Patchogue pubs and bars, with a bit of local history offered along the way. Our final stop will be Hoptron Brewtique, Long Island’s destination for home brewers and craft beer lovers. Here, you may enjoy a flight of beers historically associated with the Christmas season while learning from expert brewer Patrick McHale.
If you enjoyed last summer's History Crawl, you should certainly join us for this unique, informative and fun Christmas experience. Hope to see you!
Date: Saturday, December 7
Time: Meet at 12pm sharp
Meeting point: East side of Briarcliffe College in the parking lot.
Cost: $10 per person. Price includes tour, discounted drinks and appetizers at the Brickhouse. Cash only, please.
Length of tour: Less than a half mile of walking, arriving at our final bar at 3pm
Check the weather- you may need to dress warmly!
Please RSVP on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/748826171798372/?context=create&ref_dashboard_filter=calendar#
In the event of rain, the event will be rescheduled. Check the page for details.
We may have a large crowd. Please RSVP if you would like to attend. It is suggested that guests download Zello, a free app that turns cell phones into a walkie talkies. This will assist attendants by allowing them to hear the tour guide.http://zello.com/app.htm
