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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Mari Lwyd
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A hobby horse which is still carried through the streets in certain parts of south Wales at the midwinter season. The men accompanying Mari gain admittance to closed houses after a dialogue with those inside, conducted in partly improvised Welsh verse. Once inside, Mari misbehaves until her attendants are given food and drink. Many explanations have been suggested for the name Mari Lwyd, but llwyd is Welsh for grey and it may simply imply a 'grey mare'.
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