It’s Christmas Eve. Time to settle in by the fire, pour a glass of mulled wine, and dive into the enchanting folklore of Wales. In this festive special, Mark Rees takes you on a journey through some of the most curious Welsh traditions, old and new.
In this episode, Mark explores:
- Why kissing under the mistletoe is more than just a romantic gesture
- The extraordinary Plygain services, where countless candles light up the night sky
- How the town of Tenby made sure no one had a lie-in on Christmas Day
- The return of the horse-skulled Mari Lwyd tradition
- And even the mystery of Father Christmas’s first name… well, maybe!
For answers—and even more intriguing questions—press play and join Mark for this festive special of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast.
Nadolig Llawen! (Merry Christmas!)
EP30: Curious Christmas Folklore of Wales – Christmas Eve and Day Traditions, from Kissing Under the Mistletoe to Sion Corn and the Mari Lwyd
Christmas on the Ghosts & Folklore of Wales Podcast
Christmas time in Wales is full of magical folklore and ghostly tales. It’s the perfect season to explore seasonal oddities. Tune in every Thursday in December for a new Christmas special focused on festive Welsh traditions.
Episodes include a range of Welsh yuletide favourites. Discover the mysterious Mari Lwyd, haunted pubs, and magical Christmas trees.
Catch the episodes on December 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31. Yes, there are even episodes for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve!
Did you catch last week’s episode of the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast?
If you missed it, fear not! Catch up on EP29: The Magical Christmas Tree… and a Few Ghosts! It’s the curious story of a tree that blossomed every Christmas Eve in a west Wales garden.
For a full list of episodes—from the Mari Lwyd to the Mabinogion—and details on how to subscribe, visit the Ghosts and Folklore of Wales podcast page.
Love this podcast?
For more stories of Welsh Christmas folklore, check out The A-Z of Curious Wales!
Available from all good bookshops and online from the books page.
Published by The History Press, here’s a taste of what you’ll discover:
Wales’ history is full of fascinating customs and curious characters. From ancient druids to Victorian ghost hunters, you’ll find it all here.
In this book, you’ll discover strange stories, like why revellers would carry a decorated horse’s skull door-to-door at Christmastime. You’ll also learn about an eccentric inventor who believed he could defeat Hitler with a futuristic ray gun. Plus, find out why a cursed wall is watched over by a global corporation to protect a town from disaster.
Whether it’s the legend behind the red dragon on the Welsh flag or the tale of the song Sosban Fach, this collection of weird and wonderful facts will surprise even the most knowledgeable Welsh folk.
For more weird and wonderful stories from Wales, check out Mark Rees’s books page!