MUMMING plays, Wassailing, the parading of the sinister Mari Lwyd, morris dancing, a ceilidh and many other street events will be on offer in Chepstow this coming Saturday (January 16).

The afternoon, and evening, fun begins at 2.30pm, when the participants meet up at the Three Tuns pub, where several of the morris sides who are appearing this year will be dancing.

This will be followed by the traditional Wassail of the apple trees at the Chepstow Castle Dell, at 3pm.

An hour later, at 4pm, there will be the parading of the strangely dressed traditional Welsh border figures, complete with horses heads, known as the Mari Lwyd, at the Three Tuns – and several examples of these are said to be appearing.

At 5.30pm the English and Welsh contingents separate to their respective sides of the old Chepstow Bridge, which is this year celebrating its bicentenary.

The two sides then process to meet in the centre of the bridge, an event that has been described as: ‘like going to war – and then all peace breaks out.’ In previous years this event has proved a basis for much banter, and friendly rivalry.

The evening continues at 7.30pm, when the Mari Lwyd will perform outside Chepstow Museum, where there may be mulled cider. This event has, in the past, attracted huge crowds.

The Mari Lwyd, ‘the newest old tradition in Wales’ is held annually at the ancient Wassailing time of January, and is hosted by celebrated Chepstow morris team, The Widders. It will feature a further five morris sides: Silhill, Heb Enw, Rag Morris, The Bums, and Penkevyl Dancers - and possibly even more.

The evening concludes with a country dance and ceilidh, starting at 8pm and held at the Drill Hall, with music from Callenig. More details can be found at www.chepstowwassailmari.co.uk.