The Cowbridge Mari Lwyd will be let loose in Cowbridge on Friday the 10th of January 2020.

The Mari Lwyd is a tradition followed mainly in the old Glamorgan area, and takes part on the celebration of the new year on the Julian calendar – this is now on January 14 on the Gregorian calendar.

The National Museum of Wales explains that: ''Mari Lwyd describes the horse-figure formerly carried from door to door by wassail-singing groups during the Christmas season.

''This figure (which is, of course, represented in other countries) seems to have been once known all over southern Wales but during the present century relatively little has been seen of it outside of Glamorgan, where it is not yet completely extinct.

''The attendant ritual began with the singing of traditional stanzas by the Mari Lwyd group at the door, soliciting both permission to sing and entry into the house, and issuing a challenge to a versifying contest.''

The Cowbridge Mari Lwyd is released on the nearest Friday to that date.

This year marks the 38th year that the latest Mari has been given the run of Cowbridge.

A Facebook post said: ''To those of a nervous disposition.

''If in Cowbridge on the night of the 10th January, please be careful as the Mari Lwyd will be on the loose and wanting to cause merriment and mischief on her once a year night out.

''She will be starting her tour at the Duke of Wellington at 8:30pm. She will be collecting money for Ty Hafan.

During her time out, the Mari will be collecting money for the Ty Hafan charity.