The sizeable horse was transported by several strong men from the community who hoisted it up and down in commemoration as the names of local deceased were read out, much like the Mexican Day of the Dead. As a totemic animal, the horse appears in other festivals too. But in the context of Martror (ridden by archetypal male and female figures, Estiennou and Estiennette) its role is to carry the souls of the dead to the next world and bring back those of unborn children, reinforcing the theme of renewal.
Ever more popular, Martror has established itself as part of the rich and varied cultural programme in Pézenas. But fundamentally it transcends the here and now, sending a powerful message about the cyclical nature of life.