Mari Lwyd in Caerleon – a Community event

Mari Lwyd in Caerleon – a Community event

On Saturday 11th January the start of the traditional Welsh New Year – HEN GALAN – was celebrated with the arrival of the MARI LWYD in Caerleon.

Thanks to Henry Lutman for once again presenting his Sidmouth Folk Festival Horse Trials prize winning Mari most ably ostled by Loraine Lutman as the procession completed a fair few furlongs betwixt the ale houses of Caerleon. There were also two visiting Mari’s, one under the control of Terry Banfield, Criw Croesy; and another guest Mari from Brecon led by John Powell.

Activities commenced on the edge of the village green. The procession was led by Dave Cox, concertina maker of this parish, on drums, wearing the most magnificent cat-like headpiece and stunning fiddle player Meg Cox, who has been playing at the festival since the age of seven. The first call was at the Goldcroft where Master of Ceremonies, Pete Brodie, led the traditional pwnco singing at the doorway requesting beer for the party. The Mari, musicians and members of Cor y Dreigiau and Cor Afon Lwyd were duly permitted entrance. Revellers inside were regaled with music and song and the language of heaven was once again heard in the environs of Caerleon.

The torch lit cavalcade moved on as the party on the hoof were accompanied by music and song as they visited the Red Lion, Ye Olde Bull, White Hart, the Doghouse and the Hanbury Arms, where rituals were repeated.

The Severnside Morris dance team performed at both the Goldcroft and the Hanbury and paraded with the Mari’s. A first for them in their present line up…we look forward to their return.

The evening concluded with a wonderful “Noson Lawen” at the Hanbury where the Mari musicians were joined by Greg and Pat Morgan, Paul Hopkins, Jonathan Perry, Sue Cleaves and Nigel Whitehead.

In defiance of the inclement weather with Maris amok, music and merrymaking this celebration of community life was the ideal tonic for villagers and visitors alike.

Thanks go to:

Greville Hunt & the Caerleon Festival Team for organising this splendid event.
Stewards for control of torches, traffic & crowds.
Choir members and musicians for the musical extravaganza.
Dancers for the wonderful entertainment.
Photographers: Paul Huntley; Chris Sheehy,
All the pubs and the public for participating.

Thank you Caerleon.

Mari Lwyd yng Nghaerllion – Digwyddiad Cymunedol

Ar ddydd Sadwrn 11eg Ionawr oedd dechrau’r flwyddyn newydd Gymreig draddodiadol – HEN GALAN – dathlwyd gyda’r dyfodiad MARI LWYD yng Nghaerllion.

Diolch i Henry Lutman, unwaith eto, am gyflwyno ei Mari arobryn Treialon Ceffylau Gŵyl Werin Sidmouth dan arweiniad mwyaf medrus Loraine Lutman wrth i’r orymdaith gwblhau ychydig o ystadenni rhwng tai cwrw Caerllion. Roedd dwy Fari yn ymweld hefyd, un dan reolaeth Terry Banfield, Criw Croesy; a gwestai arall Mari o Aberhonddu dan arweiniad John Powell.

Dechreuwyd gweithgareddau ar gyrion lawnt y pentref. Arweiniwyd yr orymdaith gan Dave Cox, gwneuthurwr concertina’r plwyf hwn, ar y drymiau gyda’r penwisg cathaidd mwyaf godidog a’r chwaraewr ffidil syfrdanol Meg Cox sydd wedi bod yn chwarae yn yr ŵyl ers saith oed.

Roedd yr alwad gyntaf yn yr Goldcroft lle arweiniodd Meistr y Seremonïau, Pete Brodie, y canu pwnco traddodiadol wrth y drws yn gofyn am gwrw i’r criw. Caniatawyd mynediad priodol i’r Mari, cerddorion ac aelodau Cor y Dreigiau a Cor Afon Lwyd. Cafodd y gorfoleddwyr y tu mewn eu adlonni â cherddoriaeth a chân a chlywyd iaith y nefoedd unwaith eto yng nghyffiniau Caerllion.

Symudodd y fintai wedi’i oleuo â fflachlamp ymlaen wrth i’r parti ar yr carn gyda cherddoriaeth a chân wrth iddynt ymweld â’r Llew Coch, Yr Hen Darw, Yr Hydd Gwyn, Tafarn Y Ty Cŵn ac Arfau Hanbury, lle ailadroddwyd defodau.

Perfformiodd dawnswyr Severnside Morris yn yr Goldcroft a’r Hanbury a gorymdeithion nhw gyda’r Mari’s. Y tro cyntaf iddyn nhw yn eu ffurf bresennol… edrychwn ymlaen at eu dychwelyd.

Daeth y noson i ben gyda Noson Lawen rhyfeddol yn yr Hanbury lle ymunodd Greg a Pat Morgan, Paul Hopkins, Jonathan Perry, Sue Cleaves a Nigel Whitehead â cherddorion y Mari.

Yn herfeiddiol y tywydd garw gyda Maris yn rhedeg yn benwyllt, cerddoriaeth a hwylio y dathliad hwn o fywyd cymunedol oedd y tonydd ddelfrydol ar gyfer pentrefwyr ac ymwelwyr fel ei gilydd.

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