Page "Mari Lwyd" Paragraph 2

Perhaps deriving from an ancient rite for the Celtic goddess Rhiannon, the Mari Lwyd was once widespread throughout Wales, but is now associated with the south and south-east of the country, in particular Glamorgan and Gwent.

The rise of the chapel movement in Wales during the Industrial Revolution started the demise of the tradition, as it had started to gain a reputation for drunkenness and the pagan connotations were being protested by the church.

The influence of the church helped to change the form of the custom in some places, with Christmas carols being added to the singers ' repertoire.

The tradition started fading through the first half of the twentieth century and had pretty much become extinct during the Second World War.

Nowadays, some folk associations in Llantrisant, Llangynwyd, Cowbridge and elsewhere are trying to revive it.