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The Mari Lwyd is a symbol of Welsh mythology and it's a tradition that is now recognised around the world. In this episode, Mags discusses the Mari Lwyd, what we know about it's origin and how the tradition continues today.

Corresponding blog post -

Where you can find us?

For more information on the podcast and the hosts, make sure you check out this link.

Follow us on Instagram - @welshmysteries, as well as via our individual profiles ( @kaycpage and @mags.cross).

Follow Kay on Twitter - @kaycpage.

Work with us?

If you have a particular case that you would like us to cover, please feel free to contact us via the email below.

We are also open to discussing business and sponsorship opportunities via this email.

Both hosts have access [email protected].

Sources
BBC (2011) Tradition of the Mari Lwyd - BBC Cymru Available at https://youtu.be/G_xFo6Hifzk?feature=shared(Accessed December 11, 2023)

Broster, H. (2019) The tradition of the Welsh Christmas horse skull: Mari Lwyd in Dinas Mawddwy - We learn Welsh. https://welearnwelsh.com/blog/welsh-christmas-horse-skull-mari-lwyd/. (Accessed: December 1, 2023)

Castleton, D. (2023) 5 Really weird Christmas Folkloric customs. https://www.davidcastleton.net/strange-christmas-folklore-customs-mari-lwyd/ (Accessed: December 1, 2023)

Christmas Traditions: The Mari Lwyd (June 14, 2014). https://museum.wales/articles/1187/Christmas-Traditions-The-Mari-Lwyd/ (Accessed: December 1, 2023)

Folk Songs – Roy Saer and folk song collecting at St Fagans (no date). https://museum.wales/collections/folksongs/?id=2(Accessed: December 1, 2023).

Http://www.folkwales.org.uk/mari.html (Accessed: December 8, 2023)

Howell, David ORCID: 0000-0002-7875-1002 (2018) Contemporising Custom: the re-imagining of the Mari Lwyd. International Journal of Intangible Heritage, 13. pp. 66-79.

Ifans, R. (2022). Stars and Ribbons: Winter Wassailing in Wales. University of Wales Press

ITV News (2022) '‘No music on a dead planet’ - New Mari Lwyd mural urging climate change action appears in Cardiff,' ITV News, 30 March. https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-03-30/mural-depicting-the-mari-lwyd-appears-in-cardiff-city-centre. (Accessed December 8, 2023)

Mentrau Iaith (2020) https://youtu.be/r3aXbGl5UQ4?feature=shared

Owen, T.M. (1959) Welsh Folk Customs. National Museum of Wales, J.D. Lewis and Sons Ltd, Gomerian Press, Llandysul

Peate, I.C. (1935) '88. A Welsh Wassail-Bowl: With a Note on the Mari Lwyd.,' Man, 35, p. 81. https://doi.org/10.2307/2789906.

Price, S. (2023) Mari Lwyd and the appropriation of Welsh mythology. https://nation.cymru/opinion/mari-lwyd-and-the-appropriation-of-welsh-mythology/. (Accessed December 12,2023)

Rees, M. (2020). EP27 Mari Lwyd, the Welsh Christmas ‘Ghost Horse’: Secret history and folklore of the “b

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On the 4th of July 1995, a bus crashed in South Wales, killing 10 and injuring many others.

In the months that followed, the incident became one many that as used to justify calls for changes in the law. 

Where you can find us?

For more information on the podcast and the hosts, make sure you check out this link.

Follow us on Instagram - @welshmysteries, as well as via our individual profiles ( @kaycpage and @mags.cross).

Follow Kay on Twitter - @kaycpage.

Work with us?

If you have a particular case that you would like us to cover, please feel free to contact us via the email below.

We are also open to discussing business and sponsorship opportunities via this email.

Both hosts have access [email protected].

Resources used

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/gallery/20-years-raglan-coach-crash-9464113
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/daytrip-coach-crash-kills-eight-1590009.html
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12099214.eight-die-in-coach-crash-eight-die-as-bus-crashes/
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/coach-driver-cleared-after-crash-1263067.html
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/survivors-outrage-heartless-vandals-deface-9465579
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/528862.stm
https://www.monmouthshirebeacon.co.uk/news/call-for-action-after-yet-another-crash-on-busy-a40-at-raglan-561615
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1995/07/05/Seven-dead-43-hurt-in-UK-coach-crash/5200804916800/

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On the 30th of December 2012, Kyle Vaughan disappeared, with his car having been found abandoned on the  A467 between Crosskeys and Risca.

There appeared to have been an accident, the car having been severely damaged but the driver was never located. In the years since, there have been a number of arrests, none of which resulted in a conviction. In today's episode, Kay Page tells Kyle's story and asks the question of where is he?

Find out more about Kyle's case

There is now a dedicated Facebook page for Kyle's case, which is occasionally updated.

There is also a fundraiser in relation to Kyle Vaughan's case.

There is currently a £20,000.00 in relation to the case from Crimestoppers.

Where you can find us?

For more information on the podcast and the hosts, make sure you check out this link.

Follow us on Instagram - @welshmysteries, as well as via our individual profiles (@kaycpage and @mags.cross).

Follow Kay on Twitter - @kaycpage.

Work with us?

If you have a particular case that you would like us to cover, please feel free to contact us via the email below.

We are also open to discussing business and sponsorship opportunities via this email.

Both hosts have access.

[email protected]

Sources

I was unable to find the podcast that I referenced in this episode, and it seems as if it is no longer available. However, it was called 'Somebody knows'.

Birt, E. (2023) Search for missing man continues - 11 years after murder investigation launched, South Wales Argus. Available at: https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/24011242.eleven-years-newbridge-man-kyle-vaughan-disappeared/ (Accessed: 02 January 2024). 

Evans, T. (2023) Kyle Vaughan: Renewed appeal decade on from man’s disappearance after crash, Sky News. Available at: https://news.sky.com/story/kyle-vaughan-renewed-appeal-decade-on-from-mans-disappearance-after-crash-12932591 (Accessed: 02 January 2024). 

Gurner, R. (2022) Ten years since Kyle Vaughan went missing and police are still no closer to what happened, Caerphilly Observer. Available at: https://caerphilly.observer/news/1014892/ten-years-since-kyle-vaughan-went-missing-and-police-are-still-no-closer-to-what-happened/ (Accessed: 02 January 2024). 

ITV News (2023) Reward doubles for details about man who went missing a decade ago, ITV News. Available at: https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-08-03/reward-doubles-about-man-who-went-missing-a-decade-ago (Accessed: 02 January 2024). 

Kyle Vaughan Murder: Police renew missing man appeal (2023) BBC News. Available at: