A very Happy New Year to all our friends!

Here's to all the wonderful New Year customs and traditions celebrated across the country at this time of year. Wales is no exception - where some pretty strange traditions prevail. Customs that date from pre-Christian pagan times are still celebrated in many areas.

The period between Christmas Day and the 'Ystwyll' or Epiphany on the 6th of January was considered to be more important than the Feast itself.

On Twelfth Night in Wales, groups of men would go out 'Hunting the Wren' - a custom which entailed capturing a tiny bird in a cage and carrying it from door to door asking householders to pay for the privilege of peeping at the animal. This was to signify that in the days surrounding the shortest day, pagans believed the natural order could be turned on its head - the wren symbolising the smallest most insignificant creature becoming the most important animal - paraded around for everyone to see.

This practice was accompanied by 'Wassailing' where funny shaped bowls full of spiced beer were, again taken from house to house and toasts raised for bumper harvests in the coming year.

Another weird custom was that of the 'Mari Lwyd' where a horse's skull was decorated with ribbons and carried around challenging householders to a battle of rhyming insults!

So rejoicing in the preservation of these New Year customs, Blodwen is offering as much as a 50% reduction on some key items in her special New Year Sale . Enjoy!