SATURDAY JANUARY 16TH 2010Hi All, It's Still going ahead, but! We are sorry to have to announce the following changes to this years Wassail - Mari Lwyd. Due to adverse weather conditions and the state of the pavements and roads we have reluctantly decided to cancel the outside activities between 2pm and 6pm and also cancelled is the Ceilidh in the Drill Hall at 8pm. The Running order now looks like this 4.00pm Film at the Drill Hall A Life With Bells on Tickets from museum £4 and £3 5.30pm Wassail at Elmdale, Forest Morrismen and (invited guests only) No parking, small garden. 6.00pm All gather at the Bridge Inn for the meeting at the border. (Morris Dancing) 6.30pm Meeting of English and Welsh at the border. 7.00pm Mari Lwyd at the Bridge Inn. 7.30pm Mari Lwyd at the Museum. 8.00pm Pubs will be serving food and drink and music sessions, songs welcomed. 9.00pm Chepstow Acoustic Music Club at the Chepstow Castle Inn free and easy until late. Any Morris teams who attend are very welcome to dance wherever they can find a non icy spot inside or out. Poor Awd Oss folk play at various locations (pubs mainly) Despite the adverse weather, we will endeavour to persevere and have a damned good time. Any questions, problems please call me on 07870 611 979 Regards Mick lewis There are two large car parks close by. Lower Church St and The Castle Dell car park Bridge St. both are pay and display until 5.30pm free until 8am after that. All the evemts occur within 150 yards of each other, so there is not much walking. Stewards and event leaders will announce events as we proceed. A FULL PROGRAMME (including song book and Mari Lwyd proceedure) WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM STEWARDS AND LEADERS ON THE DAY, please give a donation. The Wassail THERE WILL BE AT LEAST TWO WASSAILS. ONE AT ELMDALE (invited guests only. Small garden) this can be viewed from The Castle Dell car park or from the garden of The Afon Gwy Hotel both in Bridge St. The second will be CHEPSTOW CASTLE PUB GARDENS AT 2.30pm. If you think of the Harvest Festival as a thank you for a good harvest, then the Wassail is a please give us a good harvest next year. The first Wassail will take place at the riverside bandstand at around 2.30.pm and again at Elmdale around 5pm. Mr Peter Symonds of C.R.O.W. (The Campaign For The Revival Of Wassailing) will conduct the proceedings along with The Forest of Dean Morris men and friends. The event includes singing, dancing, blessing an apple tree and hanging pieces of toast soaked in cider on its branches. The Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare) This is an ancient Welsh custom which probably originated in South Wales, similar to “first footing at New Year” Traditionally a horse’s skull or representation of same is carried from house to house by the Mari Lwyd group. At the house a kind of singing competition between the group and the people of the house begins after the group has knocked the door and requested entry for food and drink. Eventually, the Mari group are given entry and sustenance, there is more singing and capers and then after blessing the household, off to the next house. (see Running Order) The Meeting at the BorderThis part of the event is what we believe to be unique to Chepstow. At around 6.30pm. The Wassail group and the Mari Lwyd group gather at the border (middle of the old iron bridge) where they greet each other and exchange flags in a gesture of friendship and unity between them. The Welsh then invite the English to join them in Wales in their merrymaking and the Mari Lwyd. This is best viewed from the bandstand riverbank. (see Running Order) If you have any interest in the above proceedings and would like to be involved at any level, please contact the organisers Two Rivers Folk Festival Chepstow
STRENGTH IN COMMUNITYMike Lewis 07870 611 979
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