5 Christmas Traditions That Are Actually Terrifying
The Mari Lwyd — The Horse Skull That Comes Knocking
In Wales, a Christmas tradition called Mari Lwyd involves carrying a horse’s skull on a pole through the streets, covered in ribbons and accompanied by someone in a sheet. The group then knocks on doors and sings insults in Welsh poetry until the homeowners agree to let them inside. The skull has a hinged jaw that snaps open and shut. The tradition dates back to the 19th century and is still performed in some Welsh towns today. The skull is decorated with colored reins, glass eyes, and sometimes a bell. The homeowners are essentially being terrorized by a singing horse skull until they hand over beer and snacks. Merry Christmas.
