The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

Canu Cwnsela

"A Wassail Song"

 

Source: Bangor Community Choir, http://www.omniglot.com/songs/bcc/marilwyd.php

 

Here we come
Dear friends
To ask permissions to sing

If we don't have permission,
Let us know in song
How we should go away tonight

I have no dinner
Or money to spend
To give you welcome tonight

Wel dyma ni'n dwad
Gyfeillion diniwad
I ofyn am gennod i ganu

Os na chawn ni gennad 
Rhowch wybod ar ganiad
Pa fodd mae'r 'madawiad, nos heno

'Does genni ddim cinio
Nac arian iw gwario
I wneud i chwi roeso, nos heno.

 

A longer version of the Welsh song can be found at Mari Lwyd: Llangynwyd, http://www.folkwales.org.uk/arctd9.html. This website has an excellent and extensive discussion of the history and practice of the Mari Lwyd.

(Mari party): 
Wel, dyma ni'n diwad
Gyfeillion diniwad
I ofyn cawn genad - i ganu.

(Party in the house):
Os na chawn ni genad
Rhowch glywed ar ganiad
Pa fodd mae'r 'madawiad ­ nos heno.

Ni dorson ein crimpa'
Wrth groesi'r sticeila'
Yn dyfod tuag yma ­ nos heno.

Os aethoch rhy gynnar
I'r gwely'n ddialgar
O codwch yn harddgar ­ roesawu.

Y deisen fras, felus,
A phob sort o spices
O torwch hi'n radus - Y Gwyliau.

A thapwch y faril
Gollyngwch yn rhigl
A rhenwch e'n gynnil - Y Gwyliau.

Mae Mari Lwyd lawen
Am ddod i'ch ty rhonten
A chanu yw'r diben ­ Mi dybiaf.

'Dyw gwiw i chwi scwto
A chwnu'r latch heno
Waith prydydd diguro ­ Wyf, gwyriaf.

Os doese 'ma ddynion
All torri gelynion
O ro'ch ryw atebion ­ I'r bechgyn.

'Wel ganwch 'newch ffrindie
O rowch englyn..........
Bod 'na fodd i fi'ch dilyn - Nos heno.

Wel, ffrindie gwr diflan
'Rwyt ti wedi meddwi
'Waeth mae dy (h) ana'l di'n drewi
Trwy'r fodfedd o dderi ­ nos heno.

Mae Feri Lwyd yma
Llawn sêr a rhubanau
Mae'n werth i roi gola' ­ I dy gwelad.

Mae'r gaseg yn gyson
Wedd ei chefn iddi chynffon
Å'i dwy lygad duon ­ Yn chware.

Os oes yna ddynion
All blethu englynion
O rhowch i'n atebion ­ nos heno.

(From inside):
Wel Dafydd gwr diflan
Fe weles ei'n fegien
A dim crys ar dy gefen ­ Dros y Gwyliau.

Mae'r do' ella'r tra choenus
'Dyw'r ffordd ni ddim yn agos
A dyw'r lleuad ddim yn dangos ­ Nos heno.

(The final verse, for which the Wassail tune is used):

Ond nawr rwy'n drafod canu
Agorwch y drws inni
Mae'n o'r i mas ar a gaseg las
Mae ei sodlau bron a rhewi.

 

YR WASSAIL

Wel dyma'r hoenus feinwen
Sy'n codi gyda'r seren
A hon yw'r Wassail wych ei chlod
Sy'n caru bod yn llawen.

Duw rhoddo i'ch lawenydd
I gynal blwyddyn newydd
Tra b'o crwth a thincian cloch
Well, well y b'och chwi beunydd.

Ffarweliwch, foneddigion,
Ni gawsom roesaw ddigon
Bendith Duw f'o ar eich tai
A phob rhyw rhai o'ch dynion.

 

Note:

This is a small part of the research that I'm currently conducting on this fascinating tradition. More will be forthcoming as time and health allow.

In the meantime, here is an excerpt from the Wikipedia article.

Mari Lwyd

The Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare or "Gray Mary" in English), also Y Fari Lwyd, is a Welsh midwinter tradition, possibly to celebrate New Year(see Calennig), although it formerly took place over a period stretching from Christmas to late January. It is a form of visiting wassail, a luck-bringing ritual in which a the participants accompany a person disguised as a horse from house to house (including pubs) and sing at each door in the hope of gaining admittance and being rewarded with food and drink.[2]

     Mari Lwyd @ Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Lwyd

As noted above, please see Mari Lwyd: Llangynwyd, http://www.folkwales.org.uk/arctd9.html, for an excellent and extensive discussion of the history and practice of the Mari Lwyd (multiple pages discussing a variety of traditions, with links).

Conrad Bladey argues, correctly, that this is not a wassail song. I agree; properly speaking, this is a luck visit song. See The Wassail Epicenter, and specifically Canu Cwnsela for notes and an additional translation.

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