The mari lwyd is a Christmas tradition from South Wales. It uses the skull of a horse on the end of a pole and from which is draped a sackcloth to cover the person carrying it. First recorded in 1800, the accompanying custom involved a group of men carrying the mari lwyd from door-to-door, singing a request for entry for snacks. The households would sing a denial, and the two groups would go back and forth until one relented.

The etymology of "mari lwyd" is unclear, either meaning "Holy Mary" or "Gray Mare". The tradition faded in the early to mid-twentieth century due to opposition from local clergy as well as changing social conditions, but revived in new forms later in the century.

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Mari Lwyd (Wikipedia)