Chepstow Wassail and Mari Lwyd

Where: Chepstow Castle, Orchard, Riverbank, Border Bridge and Lower Town
When: A Weekend in mid- to late- January
Time: Afternoon from 12 noon pm - 6.30 pm

 

This is a well established revival of the ancient custom of wassailing the apple trees combined with the perhaps even more exciting Mari Lwyd, the skull-topped hobby-horse of Welsh folklore. Highlights include  wassailing, mumming and morris dancing , the ceremonial meeting of the Welsh and English at The Border Bridge  and the Mari Lwyd performances including the traditional singing , followed by a ceilidh at the Drill Hall.

Helpful Hints

In 2024 it  was on Saturday January 20th and made a welcome return after a break of several years- it’s expected to be larger scale again in future. 2025 date is yet to be announced but likely to be Saturday 18th.

There’s plenty to keep all ages entertained all day. We crossed the bridge for the English Wassail, then met the Welsh side again on the bridge later. Cider was provided regularly and the hosts were very welcoming – the atmosphere here was second to none.

Host morris side the Widders give particularly spirited performances and this is a well organised event. If you like Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival, you’ll like this – there were fewer morris sides but more alternative performances. There’s a handy car-park beside the Castle which is near the performance venues.

The ceilidh cost £6 in 2012 but all the other events were free.

Printed programmes should be available in town – all the info and timings for the different parts of the festival will be on the website well in advance.

Clcik here for the event website : http://chepstowwassailmari.co.uk/

Click here for the organisers page: https://www.facebook.com/TheWiddersBM

and here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/450433630332773

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