This is a walk/social rolled into one as we will travel to Chepstow and then do a short afternoon walk along the River Wye. In the late afternoon, we will return to Chepstow town centre to enjoy a drink or two in a pub and then watch the unique Mari Lwyd celebrations that take place in the town every winter.
The Mari Lwyd combines the English tradition of wassailing (blessing apple trees to ask for a good harvest) with the Welsh Mari Lwyd. Mari Lwyd is a first footing tradition in which the “mari” (a
shrouded horse skull) is carried from house to house or pub to pub and the performers carrying the mari aim to gain entry for free food and drink.
Being on the border, Chepstow is well placed to combine these two traditions and the town has done so in a unique way. The wassailers meet on the English side and then march to meet the Mari approaching
from the Welsh side right in the middle of the Wye bridge. However, rather than a battle, much merriment ensues not least because each side has already partaken of their respective alcoholic beverage.
Expect maris, mummers, morris dancers and general English/Welsh idiosyncratic customs.
Please remember to wrap up warm or bring extra layers to put on after the walk as we will be standing around watching the festivities. Also, if you own a headtorch, please bring it as it may be getting dark by the time we finish the walk.
http://chepstowwassailmari.co.uk/
Pub to finish.
Leader: Kirstie G (Phone number removed)
Meet: 1:30pm at St Mary Redcliffe, Bristol. Alternatively meet at 2:30pm in Chepstow, at Welsh Street, NP16 5EL
If you are going to meet us there, do not try and park in the town centre. You will get stuck when they close the roads. Suggested Pay & Display car park is Welsh Street, NP16 5EL.