An Irish Xmas Tradition -The Wren Boy Procession (my favorite!) It is said that In penal law times there was once a small rebellion plotted against the English soldiers who were occupying a country village. The sleeping English soldiers were quickly surrounded and were about to be attacked by the Bold Irish rebels-no small feat by the way since the plot was hatched in the local pub - when a group of wrens (a small wild bird) began to peck on the English soldiers drums and awakened the Bloody English who promptly routed the rebels. Once Again! The wren bird became known as the Devils Bird and The Irish had little love for them. This bit of history is celebrated on St Stephens day (Boxing Day in N.I.) on 26 Dec. Young men and boys would kill a wren and place it on a pole with a holly bush on it . (Today of course no bird is actually killed- everyone is much too civilized.). The boys (today girls as well) would dress up in old clothes or womens clothes or whatever mad outfit they could come up with. They would blacken their faces so no one would recognize them. They would then carry the poor bird in procession from house to house collecting food and drink for themselves and perhaps some money to bury the poor bird. It was great fun Anyway this custom has largely disappeared from modern Ireland but the tradition of visiting from house to house on St Stephens day has survived and is very much part of Irish Christmas Tradition. Note: The Irish also wrote a song about this wonderful custom (Of Course -says Joyce ) - The Wren Song which was a big hit for TCB&TM. youtube/watch?v=BOpwRsowgP8 Nullaig Shona duit( pronounced Null-ig Hun-a Dit )
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 23:47:34 +0000
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