Question for all the Irish members

[beloitpiper]

Could you explain the Wren Boys to me? I know it has something to do with a bird and going door-to-door, but I'd like to know what it all means. Thanks!

[macwilkin]

Could you explain the Wren Boys to me? I know it has something to do with a bird and going door-to-door, but I'd like to know what it all means. Thanks!

From the BBC web site:

Hunting the wren was a custom once performed as a real hunt, in which a bird was caught and killed and taken in procession, accompanied by costumed men with blackened faces, either on a pole, or in a coffin from door to door. Offerings were collected, after which the wren was ceremonially buried or eaten. Songs such as 'The Cutty Wren', tell of the hunting of the wren. The wren in the song appears to be of enormous proportions, and thus a great deal of effort has to be expended in its killing and eating.

Although wrens are no longer caught and killed, this ceremony survives as a type of mumming play in Ireland and stems from an Irish-speaking tradition. In some parts the participants are called mummers, in others, 'wren boys'. Traditionally these plays take place on St Stephen's Day, which is on 26th December.

-- http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A655526/

The Chieftains, in particular Kevin Coneff and the Voice Squad, do a great rendition of "The Wren Song" on their Christmas album, "The Bells of Dublin".

Happy St. Stephen's (or Boxing) Day, btw!

Cheers,

Todd

[mexpiper]

A wren is said to have betrayed Irish soldiers fighting the Norsemen by beating its wings on their shields. The wren, too, is blamed for betraying St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. This is the usual explanation why the wren is the hunted bird on St. Stephen's day..

There is a huge party at one of he local Irish Pubs.. its more crowded than new years eve...

[beloitpiper]

The Chieftains, in particular Kevin Coneff and the Voice Squad, do a great rendition of "The Wren Song" on their Christmas album, "The Bells of Dublin".

Yeah, I sing that song at sessions during Christmas time, but never knew what it meant...

[auld argonian]

I'll toss this in...it also hooks you up to a website that I have found invaluable over the past couple of years.

http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiWRENSN2;ttWRENSN2.html

I think that I first heard this on WFMT's Midnight Special Christmas Show done by the Clancy Brothers.

Best

AA

[Caradoc]

From the BBC web site:

Songs such as 'The Cutty Wren', tell of the hunting of the wren. The wren in the song appears to be of enormous proportions, and thus a great deal of effort has to be expended in its killing and eating.

Oddly, Chumbawamba has a version of "The Cutty Wren" on "English Rebel Songs 1381-1914."

It's a fairly good rendition, but I think I prefer Annwn's version of the same song from "The Lovers Enchained" album.

There's a bit of history and some lyrics on the Wikipedia page for Boxing Day.

[Schultz]

I still love the Clancy Brothers (with Tommy Makem) rendition of it, particularly the part where all four of them are singing at different speeds to replicate what it really sounds like in a village full of competing groups of boys trying to get the most money. ;)