On expressing their good wishes to the inmates, they are generally rewarded with something warm and occasionally with a pecuniary present.
Among the class called “respectable,” but not manufacturers, a previous arrangement is often made; that a boy, the son of a friend, shall come and be first admitted, receiving for his good wishes a Christmas-box of sixpence or a shilling. The houses of the artisans and poor are successively besieged by a host of gamins, who, soon after midnight, spread themselves over the town, shouting at the doors, and through keyholes, as follows:
“Au wish ya a murry Chrismas,—
A ’appy new year,—
A’ pockit full of munny,
An’ a celler full a’ beer.
God bless the maester of this ’ouse—
The mistriss all-so,
An’ all the little childrun
That round the table go.
A apple, a pare, a plom, an’ a cherry;
A sup a’ good ale mak’ a man murry,” &c.
The same house will not admit a second boy. One is sufficient to protect it from any ill-luck that might otherwise happen. A penny is the usual gratuity for this service.—N. & Q. 3rd S. vol. v. p. 395.
WALES.
A custom prevails in Wales of carrying about at Christmas time a horse’s skull dressed up with ribbons, and supported on a pole by a man who is concealed under a large white cloth. There is a contrivance for opening and shutting the jaws, and the figure pursues and bites everybody it can lay hold of, and does not release them except on payment of a fine. It is generally accompanied by some men dressed up in a grotesque manner, who, on reaching a house, sing some extempore verses requesting admittance, and are in turn answered by those within, until one party or the other is at a loss for a reply. The Welsh are undoubtedly a practical people, and these verses often display a good deal of cleverness. This horse’s head is called Mari Lwyd, which I have heard translated “Grey mare.” Lwyd certainly is grey, but Mari is not a mare in Welsh.[95]—N. & Q. 1st S. vol. i. p. 173.
[95] This custom was also practised in one or two places in Lancashire about the year 1840. The horse was played in a similar way, but the performer was called “Old Ball.” It is no doubt a vestige of the old “hobby-horse.”—Ibid. p. 245.
Upon Christmas Day, about three o’clock in the morning, the Welsh in many parts used to assemble in church, and after prayers and a sermon, continue there singing psalms and hymns with great devotion, till it was daylight; and if, through age or infirmity, any were disabled from attending, they never failed having prayers at home, and carols on our Saviour’s nativity. This act of devotion was called Pulgen, or the crowning of the cock. It was a general belief among the superstitious that instantly—