Pleased to say that my new short piece on the contemporary role of the Mari Lwyd tradition in Wales, was today published in the Wales Arts Review. I'd been itching to produce a wider access piece on the Mari and intangible cultural heritage for some time, so it's great that this is now out for wider dissemination. This article will serve as a jumping off point for a more in-depth academic publication on the subject, hopefully for later this year.
Article opening: Once a year, the border town of Chepstow plays host to one of the more unusual scenes in the Welsh cultural calendar. Congregations of Border Morris dancers are certainly not unfamiliar to these parts of Wales, where the contested nature of regional identity is played out through what appears to be a far more aggressive, almost hostile variety of the folk dance, but the gathering of a herd of Mari Lwyds is perhaps somewhat more unusual. Yet, the so called ‘ancient’ tradition of the Mari Lwyd has found a unique gathering point in the south east, where the revival of this intangible form of heritage is at its most visible. While the idea of intangible cultural heritage is not formally recognised in the British Isles, there is no shortage of examples to be found in varying states of health. The Mari Lwyd is just one of a variety of such heritage types, defined by the fact that these are living, changing and participatory traditions. In terms of the performing arts, any of those to be displayed on the stage at a local or national Eisteddfod would fall into the criteria of intangible heritage. While the likes of clog dancing, cerdd dant and even the male voice choral tradition might all be considered ageing stereotypes, they nonetheless remain an important element of a particular aesthetic vision of Wales. Sadly though, there are few such heritage types which are not in some form of deterioration. Even male voice choirs, seen as being such a robust, near permanent element of the exported vision of Wales, are in a gradual state of submission, as ageing participants struggle to find the next generation to fill diminishing ranks. It is in this climate of decline that the ongoing resurgence of the Mari Lwyd is so significant. Please find the complete article at this link, and do take the time to explore the rest of Wales Arts Review, Issue 3.2.
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The Llanfihangel Tor y Mynydd Mari Lwyd has been running for well over a decade now, and has only once before faced cancellation, thanks to the remarkable snow that settled a few years ago. Well, over the years the Mari in Llanfihangel grew and grew, becoming too large for the rural houses which once hosted the old mare, with only the local pub being capable of hosting this vast cultural event. Well, in 2014, the pub, which was supposed to be open, is in fact now due to be closed for refurbishment – for shame. As a result, with no time to reorganise, the Llanfihangel Mari will not be venturing forth in the parish for only the second time since 1998. However, this leaves me in an awkward situation, where I have a Mari Lwyd loitering in the entrance of my house in Caerleon. It seems a waste, having a Mari Lwyd at hand, to not then make use of it. So, if anyone is interested, I’m tempted on taking the Llanfihangel Mari out for a wonder in Caerleon on the evening of the 6th of January. In another spectacular moment of poor timing, I’m on a pre wedding, no booze, health drive (more to do with saving money for the wedding than actually being healthy for it), so the pubs I intend to visit will not be appreciated as fully as they might be usually, but if anyone fancies coming along, do feel free to drink heartily on my behalf. Fingers crossed the Llanfihangel Mari will at least be able to stretch its legs this year, before a triumphant return to form in 2015! Do drop me a line though if you fancy helping the Mari find her way around Caerleon! Just a quick one here to say that the new article on 'Intangible Cultural Heritage in Wales: A Need for Safeguarding?' is now available. It can be accessed either via my academia page or at the International Journal of Intangible Heritage site. This explores examples of intangible cultural heritage in Wales, and questions why this fragile form of heritage would benefit from UK ratification of the 2003 UNESCO convention.
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