42
attended GOG's 2008 ritual in praise of the Yule season and the folk
traditions that celebrate it. There were 5 or 6 new people. The weather
was in the 60s (actually warmer than the previous Beltane). The ritual
was full of the usual mirth and foolishness. It also included a more-or-less
traditional Welsh Wassail and New Year's play featuring the MARI LWYD
the Ghostly Grey Mare. We had to match wits with the Ghost Horse in
rhyming couplets in order to get the blessing It bestows. The horse
had to answer back in rhyming couplets. Alex (in the horse) was quick
with his wit, facing 42 people who had come well-prepared to heckle
the Mari Lwyd. (The Pwynco rhymes were fabulous-- lewd, crude, and funny--
particularly the ones that referenced Catherine the Great! Sample
Pwynco!)
Alex was also responsible for creating the horse's skull (with working jaw!),
while Tricia, Patty, Bob, Ed, Norma, Kerry, Maria, Nora, Betty, and Josh
helped with the costumes for the horse and the mummer's play (see
planning meeting photos!). Ed came up with the play (see script)
which was performed by Alex (the Mari Lywd), Mischa (an hysterical hero),
Ed (the merryman), Xuk (the doctor), and Kerry (as Saucy Jack). Norma was
Druid-in-Charge of the ritual. Our omens were from the Robin Wood Tarot
and seemed to include the cast of the play: page of cups, justice, chariot,
7 of swords, one of wands, and 6 of swords (the swan boat that Norma wants
us to make next...).
The
answer to "Can GOG beat a dead horse?" We called it a draw.
Jenniforensic was our lovely and talented Kitchen Witch, with help from
Bob. Photos by Bob, Marc, and Ed.
Later in the evening, we paraded our Mari Lywd down Easton Avenue while
singing a variety of holiday carols, from Deck the Halls to Grandma Got
Run Over By A Reindeer. We also had a fire going late into the night, exchanged
our awful gifts, and made $191 in our annual Cthulhu-for-Yulhu raffle.