In Wales, it might.
As I planned my Christmas novella, I wanted to write about the Mari Lwyd of Wales, and I felt that the Mari Lwyd resembled Native American rites. Researching this, I learned that Cheyenne were especially knowledgeable about horse heads, often burying them (as people have all over the world, feeling that a horse's head is especially potent and sanctifies the earth where it's been buried).
Mari Lwyd translates as a Christian celebration near Christmas and Mari of course is Mary, Mother of Jesus. Or Mari Lwyd translates as a pagan rite that speaks of hope, strength and power. It also refers to the Grey (or White) Mare, known as Mari.
Here is the link to a 1910 film from South Wales, showing the Mari and the Welshmen taking her from house to house in a village (the time honored method for an entire village to receive the blessings of the Grey Mare).
The horse stands impatiently outdoors while a battle is conducted in song and verse, the person inside singing why it's impossible to allow the Mari inside. The battle continues until the house-person relents and lets the Mari and her companions inside. She runs around and around, biting and snapping at these kind people.
As you've no doubt read, the Mari is a real horse's head (removed from a horse's skeleton) set atop a pole so that the Mari can shake her head rather wildly and even, when she's made it indoors, bite and snap at people. (This is easy if the Mari's jaw has a spring loading device.)
As my Cheyenne character says, the best ceremonial horse heads come from skeletons. But this very detail was one feature of the Mari Lwyd that almost destroyed it. The strict religious sects that settled in Wales finally outlawed the many 'hobby horse' and mummer celebrations as well as all dancing. Wales prides itself, though in the 21st century for a rich heritage stemming from these festivals.
Please follow the link. I enjoy the 10 minutes or so of the film from 1910 Wales.(scroll down the site a bit).https://www.wales.com/about/culture/mari lwyd. You can also find this film, they say, on Youtube and I watch it on the BBC. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_xFo6Hifzk
My Christmas novella is set in what would become Wyoming in a very rural area in 1840 before forts were built to help the settlers on the Holy Road, or Oregon Trail. The forts that did exist were fur trading posts such as Fort William (that eventually became Fort Laramie). Here is the link to an interesting site with the paintings of nineteenth century artists. This painting can be enlarged and we can navigate across it, showing details about the old Fort Laramie. http://www.historicartgallery.com/interior-of-fort-laramie-1858-by-alfred-jacob-miller-framed-print-on-canvas/
The Oregon Trail
Even though the Indians were given notice, so to speak, by the federal government in the 1830 Indian Removal Act, this secluded spot had a peaceful, conservative Lakota community.
I began to wonder if my Welsh ancestors had roamed their villages in December with the Grey Mare. I found that mummers' costumes were often based on rural people's clothes, including the Welsh top hat.
Rural Woman of Wales
I do hope you'll visit the Mari Lwyd site and the Youtube video from 1910 Wales with the outdoors singers bringing the Grey Mare to a house to gain entrance. #bbc
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