In the Llantwit area of Neath there is an old tradition that Green Dragons travel all the way to Penarth to hunt Boxtrolls. It is rumoured that the Dragon Master can be identified by the numerous hats he owns.The Dragon Master is often seen around this time in the Crynant and Treforgan area. Some say he has been seen on the Holy Day eating at the Loaf Cafe in Ystradgynlais.
The
activities of the Christmas season came to a climax at the New Year.
It has been suggested that the detaching of one's self from the
events of the immediate past and at the beginning of a new future
gave the celebration special significance.Nos
Galan.
One
custom associated with the end of the Christmas season, formerly
carried out in all parts of Wales but only surviving the vicissitudes
of the centuries in a few villages in Glamorganshire, is that of
the Mari Lwyd. This
consists of a horse's skull with false ears and eyes attached, along
with reins and bells, covered with a white sheet and decorated with
colored strips of cloth or bright ribbons and carried around on a
pole. The horse's jaw is operated to open and close usually by a
young, agile man, disguised under the sheet, who carries the Mari
Lwyd from door to door accompanied by his companions, Sergeant,
Merryman, Punch and Judy, and various others, all dressed in motley
and faces blackened. At the house doors, verses are recited by the
team as they beg for admittance. Those inside the house reply, also
in verse, refusing entry until the visitors inevitably win the
impromptu contest (they usually have prepared a whole list of
impromptu verses well in advance). Once inside the house, the Mari
chases the young ladies, one person plays the fiddle, Judy pretends
to sweep the hearth, Punch engages in all kinds of mischief and so on
until it is time for food and drink (the wassail) to be offered to
end the nonsense. After feasting, the party goes on to the next house
and the verse contest begins anew, continuing in this manner
throughout the day. Good news concerning this ancient custom is that
it is being revived in many areas where it had formerly died out,
especially by students at the University of Wales, whose merry making
in the streets of Aberystwyth is
carried on entirely through the medium of the Welsh language.
At the New Year, the following Welsh customs were also observed, many of them until quite recently.
All existing debts were to be paid. If not, then the debtor would remain in debt throughout the whole year. It was also considered very unlucky to lend anything on New Year's Day, even a candle. How one behaved on this special day was an indication of how he would behave throughout the coming year. Fore example, if a man rose early on January 1st, his early rising was ensured the rest of the year. The custom of letting in meant that good or bad luck was brought to the household by the first visitor of the New Year. In some areas, it was unlucky for a man to see a woman first; in others, it was unlucky for a woman to see a man first. Some people believed that it was unlucky to see a red-haired man first. In my own youth in Clwyd, having been blessed with red hair, I was never allowed into anyone's home on this day, until a dark person had first crossed the threshold. If a woman was bold enough to be the first person to enter a neighbor's house, then there had to follow a parade of little boys throughout each room to break the witch's spell!
The most popular New Year's custom was one that was carried out in all parts of Wales: theCalennig (small gift). Very early on the morning of January 1st, groups of young boys would visit all the houses in the village carrying an evergreen twig and a cup of cold water drawn from the local well. The boys would then use the twigs to sprinkle the faces of everyone they met. In return, they would receive the Calennig, usually in the form of copper coins. Even the doorways of some houses (when the occupants were still asleep or away) were sprinkled, and all the while a short verse was sung or chanted that celebrated the letting in of the New Year. The custom continued from dawn until noon, (after which it was considered very unlucky indeed), and in certain areas the boy carried apples or oranges into which sprigs of holly or corn were inserted. These offerings later became very fancy, with raisins, hazel nuts, or colored ribbons all helping to decorate the fruit. The custom, in various forms, survived in some areas well after World War II, at least the chanting of a small verse or two in exchange for small coins.
Twelfth Night (the evening of Jan. 5th)
Twelfth Night was celebrated as the end of Christmastide. The decorations, including holly and mistletoe, were taken down, the burned out Yule Log was removed from the fireplace, and its ashes stored temporarily. These were then buried along with the seeds planted in the ensuing spring to ensure a good harvest.
Each of the twelve days after Christmas was considered, in the countryside at least, to represent the corresponding months of the year, and the weather on these days was carefully observed and noted as a guide as to what could be expected for the rest of the year
At the New Year, the following Welsh customs were also observed, many of them until quite recently.
All existing debts were to be paid. If not, then the debtor would remain in debt throughout the whole year. It was also considered very unlucky to lend anything on New Year's Day, even a candle. How one behaved on this special day was an indication of how he would behave throughout the coming year. Fore example, if a man rose early on January 1st, his early rising was ensured the rest of the year. The custom of letting in meant that good or bad luck was brought to the household by the first visitor of the New Year. In some areas, it was unlucky for a man to see a woman first; in others, it was unlucky for a woman to see a man first. Some people believed that it was unlucky to see a red-haired man first. In my own youth in Clwyd, having been blessed with red hair, I was never allowed into anyone's home on this day, until a dark person had first crossed the threshold. If a woman was bold enough to be the first person to enter a neighbor's house, then there had to follow a parade of little boys throughout each room to break the witch's spell!
The most popular New Year's custom was one that was carried out in all parts of Wales: theCalennig (small gift). Very early on the morning of January 1st, groups of young boys would visit all the houses in the village carrying an evergreen twig and a cup of cold water drawn from the local well. The boys would then use the twigs to sprinkle the faces of everyone they met. In return, they would receive the Calennig, usually in the form of copper coins. Even the doorways of some houses (when the occupants were still asleep or away) were sprinkled, and all the while a short verse was sung or chanted that celebrated the letting in of the New Year. The custom continued from dawn until noon, (after which it was considered very unlucky indeed), and in certain areas the boy carried apples or oranges into which sprigs of holly or corn were inserted. These offerings later became very fancy, with raisins, hazel nuts, or colored ribbons all helping to decorate the fruit. The custom, in various forms, survived in some areas well after World War II, at least the chanting of a small verse or two in exchange for small coins.
Twelfth Night (the evening of Jan. 5th)
Twelfth Night was celebrated as the end of Christmastide. The decorations, including holly and mistletoe, were taken down, the burned out Yule Log was removed from the fireplace, and its ashes stored temporarily. These were then buried along with the seeds planted in the ensuing spring to ensure a good harvest.
Each of the twelve days after Christmas was considered, in the countryside at least, to represent the corresponding months of the year, and the weather on these days was carefully observed and noted as a guide as to what could be expected for the rest of the year
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