Gibson and the Apocalypse: Mare-y Christmas!

Who wants to go wassailing?!

The Welsh have an absolutely amazing midwinter tradition involving a horse skull named Mari Lwyd, or Grey Mare. The skull is usually adorned with Christmas baubles, ribbons, winter greenery, and a long white sheet, and typically appears around Christmas and New Years to join in on the festivities– specifically, she travels around to people’s houses with a group of handlers who request entry and refreshments at each house by means of a back-and-forth carol battle with the homeowners.

Despite the Mari Lwyd’s somewhat spooky ghostly appearance and mischievous behavior, she is said to be a benevolent spirit, and any home that lets her and her handlers in to share food and beer will be blessed with good fortune and prosperity for the following year.

This does not mean it’s not still rather unnerving to run into her when you and your steed are alone in the winter woods during the apocalypse, however.

Wæs hæil!

Jenny Kammerer is a professional artist, video producer and frustrated Philadelphia sports fan who’s been in the saddle since the age of four. When she was 16, she met her Paint/QH/Draft cross Gibson (aka Guitar Solo) as a green two-year-old, and quickly settled into the training side of equestrianism, drawing inspiration from the techniques of Pat Parelli and other natural horsemanship teachers. Known for most of her childhood as both the awkward artsy one and the weird horse girl, she always seemed destined to draw nonsensical horse cartoons. In addition to her independent illustration work, she currently teaches painting classes at Painting With A Twist and produces short-form documentaries that can be seen on www.Horse.TV. You can follow her personal art projects and stay up-to-date on Gibson and the Apocalypse on Instagram: @JennyKammArt