The Mari Lwyd is one of Wales’s more unusual winter traditions, often compared to a kind of pub crawl. The name is usually translated as “Grey Mare,” and the custom involves a decorated horse’s skull mounted on a pole, carried from house to house by a group of singers over Christmas and New Year. The group would knock on doors and begin a singing exchange known as a pwnco, trading improvised verses until they were invited inside. Once admitted, they were given food and drink while the Mari caused a bit of lively chaos. This design presents the Mari Lwyd in a bold graphic style, with clear outlines and simple shapes that capture its eerie but playful feel. A lively graphic inspired by one of Wales’s most distinctive winter customs.
