Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

EP82 The Endless Christmas Party: Curious festive customs in Victorian Wales with music, carols and the Mari Lwyd. Explore the history of the ”Land of Song” on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast


Listen Later

In Victorian Wales, the 12 Days of Christmas became the 12 Days of Carnage for some, with a little too much merriment leading to fisticuffs and debauchery.

At the heart of the festivities was music, and it was during this period that Wales became known as the "Land of Song." There were mummers and Christmas carol singers in the streets, and a certain horse-skulled creature called the Mari Lwyd.

But there was a fierce rivalry among the musicians to match any sporting rivalry, and the as bell ringers, waits and singers all fought it out - quite literally in some cases - to find the best music makers in Wales.

Get in the festive mood with author Mark Rees (Ghosts of Wales) as he explores the fascinating history and folklore of Wales on the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast... if you dare!

 

 

What is the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees podcast?

In early 2020, Mark Rees launched the world’s first podcast dedicated to Welsh ghost stories, folklore, myths and legends.

By combining his unique research and insights from many books and articles with long-lost tales from dusty old tomes, this weird and wonderful podcast takes a fascinating look at the country's countless curious subjects.

New episodes are uploaded every Thursday and feature everything from real-life encounters with pesky poltergeists to fantastical beasts from the Mabinogi, to dark and Gothic Halloween/ Nos Calan Gaeaf traditions to the skulled-headed Christmas favourite herself, the Mari Lwyd.

Be sure to subscribe, and for more details and to get in touch with Mark Rees, please visit:

  • Mark Rees homepage
  • Mark Rees on social media
  • Books by Mark Rees
  • Ghosts of Wales podcast
  • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark ReesBy Mark Rees

    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9
    • 4.9

    4.9

    80 ratings


    More shows like Ghosts and Folklore of Wales with Mark Rees

    View all
    Anything Ghost Show by Lex Wahl

    Anything Ghost Show

    1,961 Listeners

    Unexplained by iHeartPodcasts

    Unexplained

    7,561 Listeners

    The Ghost Story Guys by Brennan Storr

    The Ghost Story Guys

    1,044 Listeners

    Dark Histories by Ben Cutmore

    Dark Histories

    1,791 Listeners

    Southern Gothic by Southern Gothic Media

    Southern Gothic

    936 Listeners

    Mysteries and Monsters by Mysteries and Monsters

    Mysteries and Monsters

    220 Listeners

    The Midnight Library by Astonishing Legends Productions

    The Midnight Library

    1,080 Listeners

    The Dark Paranormal by The Dark Paranormal

    The Dark Paranormal

    1,084 Listeners

    Haunted UK Podcast by Haunted UK Podcast

    Haunted UK Podcast

    174 Listeners

    Paranormal Activity with Yvette Fielding by Create

    Paranormal Activity with Yvette Fielding

    62 Listeners

    Uncanny by BBC Radio 4

    Uncanny

    749 Listeners

    Hometown Ghost Stories by Bloody FM

    Hometown Ghost Stories

    642 Listeners

    My Paranormal Experience by My Paranormal Experience

    My Paranormal Experience

    185 Listeners

    The Tape Library - Archive of the Paranormal & the Unexplained by The Tape Library

    The Tape Library - Archive of the Paranormal & the Unexplained

    64 Listeners

    How Haunted? Podcast | Horrible Histories, Real Life Ghost Stories, and Paranormal Investigations from Some of the Most Haunted Places on Earth by Rob Kirkup

    How Haunted? Podcast | Horrible Histories, Real Life Ghost Stories, and Paranormal Investigations from Some of the Most Haunted Places on Earth

    64 Listeners