| Long ago in Ireland, young boys and men known | | | | Stephen's Dayit was caught in the furze,up with |
| as 'The Wren Boys' would go out into the woods. | | | | the kettleand down with the pangive me a |
| They would hunt for and then kill a wren and then | | | | pennyto bury the wran. |
| parade the dead bird through the town on top of | | | | This ancient tradition can still be seen in certain |
| a decorated pole. Charming eh? | | | | town and villages in Ireland and it really is a sight |
| There is a lot of speculation as where this | | | | to behold! The Wren Boys march through the |
| tradition stems from. One story says that long | | | | streets dressed in traditional attire (usually |
| ago there was a plan by Irish soldiers to ambush | | | | something made from straw) to the beat of |
| a Viking soldier camp and a whole bunch of wrens | | | | drums and they stop off in bars along the way to |
| pecked on the Viking soldiers drums and woke | | | | play traditional music. Money is still collected but |
| them up just in time for the plan to fail. The Irish | | | | this is given to charity and of course a wren is |
| soldiers were defeated. From then on, the wren | | | | not killed anymore but some Wren Boys march |
| was known as the bird of the devil. | | | | with a fake bird. |
| The poor little Wren is also blamed for the | | | | If you happen to be in the south west of Ireland |
| betraying the Christian martyr St. Stephen when | | | | this Christmas then pop along to see this unusual |
| was in hiding by making noises, hence the reason | | | | celebration in the picturesque town of Dingle in |
| for hunting the Wren on St. Stephen's Day. | | | | County Kerry where it is very much alive. The |
| Of course, the little wren was considered the 'King | | | | Dingle Wren Festival draws spectators from far |
| of all birds' in Celtic mythology, as it is said that | | | | and wide who come to take part in the fun, |
| the birds had a contest to see who could fly the | | | | enjoy the music and the craic, or just to |
| highest. The clever wren flew higher than the | | | | experience and see an age old Irish tradition that |
| eagle by sitting on the eagles back as it soared | | | | has been handed down through the years. |
| high and then the wren could fly even higher | | | | There are also Wren Day celebrations in Dublin on |
| when the eagle got tired. So this custom of | | | | St. Stephen's Day, which have become part of |
| hunting the wren could also stem from Pagan | | | | the annual festivities in the city. Musicians from all |
| times. | | | | over come playing every kind of traditional |
| In the old days it was a real wren that was killed | | | | instrument, like bodhrans, bagpipes and tinwhistles. |
| and placed on the top of the pole and the "wren | | | | The entertainment begins in Sandymount usually |
| boys" would carry it around to houses and beg | | | | around 12 noon. The funds from this particular |
| for money to bury the bird as it was considered | | | | Wren celebration normally go to a local charity. |
| to be evil. | | | | Actually, the famous Irish writer John B. Keane |
| The Wren Boys would sing this traditional song at | | | | based his novel 'The Bodhran Maker' on the |
| each house: | | | | activities of the Wren Boys in his native County |
| The Wran, the wranthe king of all Birdson St. | | | | Kerry - it's a really good read! |