March 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010
August 2010
September 2010 October 2010 November 2010 December 2010 January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 May 2011 June 2011 July 2011 August 2011 September 2011 October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February 2012 March 2012 April 2012 May 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 November 2012 December 2012 January 2013 February 2013 March 2013 April 2013 May 2013 June 2013 July 2013 August 2013 September 2013 October 2013 November 2013 December 2013 January 2014 February 2014 March 2014 April 2014 May 2014 June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 September 2014 October 2014 November 2014 December 2014 January 2015 February 2015 March 2015 April 2015 May 2015 June 2015 July 2015 August 2015 September 2015 October 2015 November 2015 December 2015 January 2016 February 2016 March 2016 April 2016 May 2016 June 2016 July 2016 August 2016 September 2016 October 2016 November 2016 December 2016 January 2017 February 2017 March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 November 2017 December 2017 January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 May 2018 June 2018 July 2018 August 2018 September 2018 October 2018 November 2018 December 2018 January 2019 February 2019 March 2019 April 2019 May 2019 June 2019 July 2019 August 2019 September 2019 October 2019 November 2019 December 2019 January 2020 February 2020 March 2020 April 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 August 2020 September 2020 October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 May 2021 June 2021 July 2021 August 2021 September 2021 October 2021 November 2021 December 2021 January 2022 February 2022 March 2022 April 2022 May 2022 June 2022 July 2022 August 2022 September 2022 October 2022 November 2022 December 2022 January 2023 February 2023 March 2023 April 2023 May 2023 June 2023 July 2023 August 2023 September 2023 October 2023 November 2023 December 2023 January 2024 February 2024 March 2024 April 2024 May 2024 June 2024 July 2024 August 2024 September 2024 October 2024 November 2024 December 2024
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29
30
31
News Every Day |

Wren’s day: an old Irish tradition that survives today

Irish Folklore Commission , CC BY-NC

In the town of Dingle in the south-west of Ireland, locals often say that there are two seasons in the year: six months before the Wren and six months after the Wren (pronounced “wran”). It is not uncommon to hear “I’ll see you the Wren’s Day” as a greeting even more than “happy Christmas” during Christmas week itself.

As someone who grew up in the town, it is fair to say that Dingle people are healthily obsessed with it and that the Wren’s Day is the highlight of the calendar for most townspeople.

While Dingle has quite a unique relationship with the wren tradition, it is not the only community where it survives and thrives and from Carrigkerry to Enniskerry, Fermanagh to Fingal and the Isle of Man to St John’s Newfoundland, the tradition is performed with gusto in communities today that are hugely committed to this ancient custom.

The wren tradition or “hunting the wren” is an old midwinter custom that was once commonplace throughout Ireland, the UK and diaspora communities, but it died out in most areas throughout the 20th century.

The exact origins are unknown, but it was usually performed in rural areas with masked groups calling from house to house with a wren bird that they had captured. They would ask for money to bury the bird and perform some music and song in exchange.

Groups were usually invited into the home and given refreshments and many will be familiar with the rhyme or song that is associated with the visiting groups:

“The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
Saint Stephen’s Day, was caught in the furze
Although he is little, his honour is great Jump up me lads and give him a treat Up with the kettle and down with the pan And give us a penny to bury the wren”


Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.


In folklore, the wren earned the title “King of all Birds” by being a little deceitful, hence why it was hunted.

The story goes that all the various birds met in order to elect a king and it was decided that the bird that could fly closest to the sun would be deemed the winner. The wren knew it would never make it on its own so hid under the eagle’s wing.

When the eagle had flown as close to the sun as he could and the other birds had fallen away, the wren popped out and was deemed to be the closest and so the king. But because of the deceitful manner of his victory, the wren is hunted.

The later Christian story tells of the bird squealing on Saint Stephen when he was hiding from soldiers. Stephen was caught and killed, becoming the first Christian martyr and the wren is hunted on his feast day as a sort of payback.

The stories form inspiration today in the likes of Mercury-nominated band Lankum’s beautifully dark The Wren, which takes both secular and sacred ideas around the wren.

On the Isle of Man, hunting the wren is popular and as well as versions of the recited verse, a dance is also a part of the celebration.

A circular group dance with simple movements and steps, it encourages participation and the dancers gather around a wren pole, which is made from willows and other branches and decorated with foliage from hedgerows, crepe paper and a wren bird (now only a replica). The wren pole is thought to bring luck and the Manx (Isle of Man) tradition references the wren’s connection to fertility.

In St John’s Newfoundland in Canada, where the tradition was brought by Irish and English settlers in the 19th century, groups disguised in old clothes and with their faces covered with old net curtains travel from house to house. At each door they entertain people with music, song and dance, gathering money for a party and/or charity.

The Dingle tradition has adapted over time to incorporate a more carnival style than elsewhere. The town separates into four separate wren groups for the tradition divided by clear geographical boundaries. The Green and Gold, John Street, Goat Street and Quay groups parade around the town from midday to midnight, each with their own band, set of colours, hobby horses and straw suits.

Among the groups there is a lot of rivalry and informal competition has helped to keep the tradition strong. They all collect for local charities. The music is lively and raucous and celebratory and there is a great sense of pride among the community for having kept the tradition so alive and relevant.

The local Gaelic football team’s jerseys have a wren bird on the back with the words “old comrades”, a tune from the tradition which is used to commemorate and celebrate. The team chant that instead of the more universal “Championées” after matches.

While the groups make sure many of the historic facets of Wren’s day are followed, like many unbroken traditions around the world, there is room for adaptation.

The traditional straw suits, which are made a few weeks beforehand, are still used by the groups, but recent years has seen a great development in the way people like to disguise themselves. From Donald Trump to Graham Norton and from bowling balls to the Grinch, masquerade groups are everywhere.

The midwinter celebration of the wren was intrinsically linked to fertility and good luck for the year ahead and there is probably an element of that today in the communities that celebrate. But mostly it is about honouring those who kept the tradition alive before us, celebrating community and simply having a great time together.

Aoife Granville does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Происшествия

На месте дач УрО РАН на Шарташе создадут туристическую зону

Shastri slams Australian media as Virat Kohli faces heat

OpenAI announces plan to transform into a for-profit company

Gary Lineker ‘turns into Barry White’ as BBC viewers left stunned by sound of MOTD host’s voice

‘Make your own mind up’ – Ruben Amorim gives worrying update on Marcus Rashford’s Man Utd future

Ria.city






Read also

I was caught having sex with my brother by his GF – she forgave him & they’re still together but we’re still bonking too

Supermarket giant slashes festive favourite Quality Street to just £1.50 and it’s the cheapest around

Brooklyn homeless shelter murder raises safety concerns as homicides surge

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Shastri slams Australian media as Virat Kohli faces heat

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

'Gully cricket khel raha hai kya?': Rohit rebukes Yashasvi



Sports today


Новости тенниса
Елена Рыбакина

Елена Рыбакина за час с лишним разобралась с соперницей



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Мостовой: прожить на 30 тысяч рублей в месяц нереально



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Первая премия Федерации спортивного программирования России: итоги года и награды для лучших из лучших!


Новости России

Game News

Sorry Metaphor, but after playing 300 hours worth of Atlus RPGs in 2024, Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance is my favorite


Russian.city


Блоги

В Москве и Московской области жилищные условия за счет материнского капитала улучшили свыше 537,8 тысячи семей


Губернаторы России
Андрей Данилевич

Кабмин запретил майнинг в 10 регионах России до 2031 года


Филиал № 4 ОСФР по Москве и Московской области информирует: Свыше 110 уроков пенсионной грамотности провели сотрудники Отделения СФР по Москве и Московской области

В Чехове мужчина поджег дом с семьей внутри

"Увидеть снег": из каких стран едут туристы в Россию на Новый год

Собянин рассказал о "Московском предуниверсарии"


В Самаре суд приговорил певца Шарлота* к 5,5 лет в колонии-поселения за видеоролики

Создание ИИ клипа. Создание клипа с помощью нейросети.

В Петербурге выступит Найк Борзов с новогодним концертом в «Космонавте» 4 января

«Сегодня будет серьезное месилово!» Филипп Киркоров выберет победителей шоу «Звездные танцы» 


Даниил Медведев обошёл Пита Сампраса по сумме заработанных за карьеру призовых

Карлос Алькарас сыграет на турнире ATP-500 в Дохе, куда заявлены ещё шесть игроков топ-10

Александр Зверев: «Все еще считаю, что в этом году я показал свой лучший теннис на «Уимблдоне». Было очень, очень обидно получить травму колена»

ATP опубликовала окончательный рейтинг теннисистов по призовым, заработанным в 2024 году



Есть и не бояться: гастроэнтеролог Садыков назвал блюда, которые можно всем на новогоднем столе

Что работодатели должны знать о поколении Z?

Филиал № 4 ОСФР по Москве и Московской области информирует: Отделение СФР по Москве и Московской области оплатило свыше 243 тысяч дополнительных выходных дней по уходу за детьми с инвалидностью

Свыше 6,5 тысячи жителей Москвы и Московской области получили справки о статусе предпенсионера в клиентских службах регионального Отделения СФР и МФЦ


Певец Шарлота* получил срок и отправится в колонию

Подмосковные сотрудники ГУФСИН РФ встретились с летчиками-космонавтами «Роскосмоса»

Седокова не приехала на похороны экс-мужа Тиммы в Ригу

Что смотреть на ТНТ в новогодние праздники: «Небриллиантовая рука», праздничный Comedy Club и марафоны любимых шоу


Почему в Москве столько заборов?

Тела четырех детей обнаружили в частном доме в СНТ под Тверью

Японский Новый год в «Тропикана Парк»

В «Акроне» высказались о губернаторе Федорищеве: «Не думаю, что есть деление на главный и неглавный клуб региона»



Путин в России и мире






Персональные новости Russian.city
Лариса Долина

Задержан еще один фигурант дела о квартире Долиной



News Every Day

Gary Lineker ‘turns into Barry White’ as BBC viewers left stunned by sound of MOTD host’s voice




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости