It’s May Day, Beltane, and in some parts of Britain the Hobby Horse, or ‘Obby ‘Oss, is part of the festivities marking the beginning of Springtime fertility. There is a long tradition, predating Christianity, of celebrations involving horses, possibly linked to the ancient Celtic horse goddess, Epona. Here in Wales we have the Mari Lwyd, or Grey Mare, although this is a New Year tradition. Here’s a monotype from sketches of the Ystrad Mari I did earlier this year.
May Day, Beltane And The Horse
1 May- Comments 5 Comments
- Categories Arty Stuff, Other animals, Printmaking
- Author Rosie Scribblah
5 Responses to “May Day, Beltane And The Horse”
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To buy my work on the Swansea Print Workshop site please click the image to the left.
Inspired by drawings of the taxidermy collection at Swansea Museum. I have given these antique artefacts a modern twist by combining them with images of rubbish – old fruit nets, bubble wrap and plastic – highlighting the problem of human pollution and how it affects wildlife.
20 percent of the cost of each screenprint sold goes to support Swansea Print Workshop, which receives no public funding.Hunting The Wild Megalith
Pasta Machine Printmaking, The Movie (with added cat)
Me and my model
Man Child from George Morris Film on Vimeo.
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Horses were clearly very important to ancient societies. I love the variety of May Day festivities that the Church may not have approved of but did not stamp out.
There’ such a revival going on as well. Lovely to see.
It’s all good fun and a chance for people to get out and be with other people, instead of staring at dull old screens!.
Do you know much about “Ceffyl Dwr” or water horses? I have come across a reference to one being seen at Oxwich in the early 19th century.
No I haven’t, but I know a man who might ….