Welsh Christmas Traditions You Didn't Know About

December is the perfect time for throwing yourself into tradition and having fun. Whether you are a family who put their trees up on a certain date or you always go to a Christingle service (even as a grown adult), Christmas traditions truly warm the heart.

When we think of Christmas traditions (those that most people in the UK tend to follow), we are reminded of the following:

• Putting stockings out on Christmas Eve
• Advent calendars
• Roast dinners (too many of them), specifically with Turkey and Pigs in Blankets
• Decorating the home
• Christmas trees being put up and decorated
• Baking Christmas cake and gingerbread
• Hampers
• Gift giving and receiving

And the list goes on. 

But what about Welsh traditions? Are there any Christmas traditions that are different in Wales? The answer to that is… “ie” (that’s “yes” in Welsh). If you’re interested in finding out what they are, crack open a bottle of port, open the box of crackers, get the cheese out of the fridge, and read on…

Here are 8 Welsh Christmas traditions to delve into: 

Hunting the Wren

Wren Day, Day of the Wren or Hunt the Wren Day was celebrated in Wales between St Stephens Day and the Twelfth Night.

The Hunting the Wren was practised for good luck in the new year. While it is no longer celebrated, it is really interesting to discover the old Welsh customs and how “Hunting the Wren” was executed. 

What the procession involved was a group of men, carrying a small wren in a wooden cage door-to-door through the town. People in the houses would then pay to see the wren.

Nowadays, the Day of the Wren is still celebrated in Ireland. It is celebrated on December 26, the equivalent to Boxing Day, a fake wren is placed on top of a pole and this is paraded through the town. It is followed by strawboys, men dressed-up in straw suits and masks, and watched by a crowd, known as Wrenboys. Today, the practice has largely faded from Wales, but is still marked in Ireland on 26 December.

Plygain - The Dawn Chorus

Plygain is still an active custom in Mid-Wales and is a significant feature of a Welsh Christmas. It is a traditional Welsh Christmas service and is essentially singing between the hours of 3am and 6am on Christmas Day. 

But why so early? It is believed the word “Plygain” comes from the Latin word “pullicanto” which is “when the cock crows at dawn”. And how is Plygain different from Christmas Mass? Today many services happen in Advent/January evenings, and typically the verses of the songs in the Plygain reference the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, as well as his birth, unlike Christian carols.

Sweet Tooth Taffy / Noson Gyflaith

Taffy, or cyflaith (Welsh treacle toffee) was made by Welsh families on Christmas Eve in the lead up to the Plygain service. They would stay up waiting for the Christmas service and make this delicious toffee. Some would invite others round to join them to help make it too! This is known as Noson Gyflaith.

You can follow this great recipe if you want to have a go at the traditional Welsh Christmas custom.

Mari Lwyd - Why the Long Face?

The “Mari Lwyd” stands for the “grey mare” and is a pre-Christian tradition thought to bring good luck in the New Year. Practised between Christmas Day and Twelfth Night, the horse figure is made and adorned with ornamental ears and eyes. It would also be further decorated with coloured ribbons, bells and paper. It would then be paraded around the town. The party would challenge different houses to a battle of wits (known as pwnco). After this battle, the Mari Lwyd party would be invited into the house for refreshments.

Wassail (Getting Merry on Cider)

Wassailing originates from the Anglo-Saxon term “waes hael” to be healthy and relates to the drinking and sharing of the wassail bowl. The wassailing bowl would hold a combination of sugar, fruits, warm beer, and spices to share amongst the town. Typically drunk around Christmas, it was originally intended to toast and hope for a good harvest of cider apples the following year. Sounds like a great excuse for mulled cider if you ask us. 

Calennig - Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

Calennig is the Welsh celebration of New Year's Day that typically involves gift-giving. Bread and cheese is the most common gift that is offered (as if we haven’t eaten enough over Christmas itself). Children typically receive an apple on a stick with fruit and raisins. In order to exchange all the gifts, all relatives should be visited before midday.

Gŵyl San Steffan (St Stephens Day)

The equivalent of Boxing Day and a day to celebrate St Stephen. We have to feel lucky that the Welsh no longer continue the tradition that they practiced before the 19th century. Their ancient custom involved the bleeding of livestock and flogging servants and late risers with holly branches. Supposedly, these customs brought good luck.

The Holly and the Mistletoe

Homes were decorated with mistletoe and holly; mistletoe was thought to protect the family from evil, and holly to symbolise everlasting life. Mistletoe was also thought to bring good luck. When reviewing the Norse meanings of these plants, holly was a fertility symbol too and, kept witches away (bonus), while mistletoe symbolised love and friendship. We still have holly and mistletoe in our Christmas tradition collection today.