A GROUP of morris dancers from the Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire border are helping to keep the Welsh midwinter Mari Lwyd tradition alive.

Members of Heb Enw Border Morris team, which meets at Llanfallteg and draws its members from across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, have been singing and bringing out the 'horse' at venues across the county.

The Mari Lwyd (grey mare) is a centuries-old Welsh winter tradition involving a decorated, shrouded horse skull which is carried from house to house, or pub, by performers seeking entry for food/drink by entertaining with songs, rhymes or riddles.

The tradition is said to bring good luck.

Members of the morris team joined local folk musicians for their annual festive get together at Ye Olde Inn, Camrose, on December 18, and attended a festive get together with musicians and carols at Caffle Brewery, Llawhaden on December 19.

As well as the Mari Lwyd, three members of the Tose family, Welsh bagpipe maker John Tose and his daughters Danny and Micky from near Crymych, sang a few Plygain carols.

These are a specific type of Christmas carol dating from the 17th to the 19th Century and sung in the Welsh language.

After Christmas, the full morris team also danced outside Tafarn Sinc, Rosebush, on Sunday, December 27, before heading inside for an appearance by the Mari Lwyd, and more music and singing.

The team will next be making an appearance with the Mari Lwyd on January 9 at the Trehale Farm/Gethin's Cyder Wassail, near Mathry.

Wassailing is a new year tradition carried out in orchards to bless the apple trees and ask for a good harvest. The ceremony involves cider, food (toast) hung on trees to welcome the good spirits, and loud bangs to ward off the evil ones.

The team is also due to take the Mari Llwyd, to the Plash at Llanfallteg after their usual Wednesday evening practice in the village hall, and will travel to Chepstow for a mass meeting of Mari lwyds and wassailing on January 16.