The Mari Lwyd Part 1 The Mari Lwyd is a ghastly Christmas Horse, a continuation of Hobby Horse and Wassailing traditions of the Welsh, likely since pre-christian times. The Mari Lwyd likely translates to “Grey mare” and while the origins of the tradition similar to that of Krampus are shrouded in mystery, and the Mari Lwyd tradition almost died out in the early 1900's especially after the world wars. The tradition has seen a revival in recent years. Becoming so popular that is has spread out from the Twelfths and the Welsh New Year “Hen Galan” into other celebrations such as Midsummer and Samhain. The latter of which it is theorized is where the tradition may have originated. The Mari Lwyd is the skull of a horse typically buried and allowed to rot before the skull is retrieved.