Christmas in Galway: The Wren Boys

“Hunting the Wren” on St. Stephen’s Day 🐦

With Christmas upon us would like to let you know about the annual tradition of ‘Hunting the Wran’ or the ‘Wren’ which is occurs in Ireland and throughout Galway at Christmas time. Once a common event throughout Ireland, it now takes place in certain towns and villages on St. Stephen’s Day, the day after Christmas Day, also known as ‘Lá an Dreoilín’.

Tradition of The Wren Boys 👨‍🌾

People dress up in old clothes and paint their faces, wear straw hats and travel from door to door singing, dancing and playing traditional music. Find out more about this very unusual age-old Irish Christmas custom…

Long ago in Ireland, young boys and men known as ‘The Wren Boys’ would go out into the woods. They would hunt for and then kill a wren and then parade the dead bird through the town on top of a decorated pole. Charming eh?

There is a lot of speculation as where this tradition stems from. One story says that long ago there was a plan by Irish soldiers to ambush a Viking soldier camp and a whole bunch of wrens pecked on the Viking soldiers drums and woke them up just in time for the plan to fail. The Irish soldiers were defeated. From then on, the wren was known as the bird of the devil.

The poor little Wren is also blamed for the betraying the Christian martyr St. Stephen when was in hiding by making noises, hence the reason for hunting the Wren on St. Stephen’s Day.

Of course, the little wren was considered the ‘King of all birds’ in Celtic mythology, as it is said that the birds had a contest to see who could fly the highest. The clever wren flew higher than the eagle by sitting on the eagles back as it soared high and then the wren could fly even higher when the eagle got tired. So this custom of hunting the wren could also stem from Pagan times.

In the old days it was a real wren that was killed and placed on the top of the pole and the “wren boys” would carry it around to houses and beg for money to bury the bird as it was considered to be evil.

The Wren Boys would sing this traditional song at each house 🎶

The Wran, the wran

the king of all Birds

on St. Stephen’s Day

it was caught in the furze,

up with the kettle

and down with the pan

give me a penny

to bury the wran.

The Wren Song

This ancient tradition can still be seen in certain towns and villages throughout County Galway, most notably with the New Inn Mummers Festival, and it really is a sight to behold! The Wren Boys march through the streets dressed in traditional attire (usually something made from straw) to the beat of drums and they stop off in bars along the way to play traditional music. Money is still collected but this is given to charity and of course a wren is not killed anymore but some Wren Boys march with a fake bird.

Outside of County Galway, if you happen to be in the south west of Ireland this Christmas then pop along to see this unusual celebration in the picturesque town of Dingle in County Kerry where it is very much alive. The Dingle Wren Festival draws spectators from great distances who come to take part in the fun, enjoy the music and the craic, or just to experience and see an age old Irish tradition that has been handed down through the years.

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Part 2, Day 6 of #12DaysofSolstice2018 Blessings on St Stephens Day aka Lá Fhéile Stiofáin (Irish Gaelic) or Lá an Dreoilín, meaning the Wren Day, aka Gŵyl San Steffan (Welsh). This festival seems to syncretize its Pagan and Christian roots. St Stephen was the first Christian martyr and the day was also celebrated by Mummers — troupes of all male amateur actors also known as “wren boys” or “strawboys” — across Britain and was very popular in Ireland. Per Wikipedia, “This name alludes to several legends, including those found in Irish mythology, linking episodes in the life of Jesus to the wren. People dress up in old clothes, wear straw hats and travel from door to door with fake wrens (previously real wrens were killed) and they dance, sing and play music.” The wren allegedly betrayed Saint Stephen, hence the ritual — and then symbolic — revenge. The Wren was also considered King of the Birds, and represented the old year. Capturing a wren alive was said to ensure a prosperous new year, and a wren feather was a talisman to protect one from being lost at sea. Some believe these rituals to be Druidic in origin: the Irish Gaelic word for wren is “dreolín”, possibly from “draoi ean”, or ‘Druid bird’ Some of the Welsh traditions for this day, apparently now (thankfully!) discontinued, included a ritual for bleeding of livestock (apparently for their health and stamina!) and "holming" (beating with holly bushes) any late risers and servants, apparently for good luck … although I’m sure those at the end of a holly swat would not agree! These are traditions I am more than happy to leave in the past! Various images sourced via Google

A post shared by Della Ratcliffe (@innerjourneyevents) on Dec 26, 2018 at 7:12pm PST

There are also Wren Day celebrations in Dublin on St. Stephen’s Day, which have become part of the annual festivities in the city. Musicians from all over come playing every kind of traditional instrument, like bodhrans, bagpipes and tinwhistles. The entertainment begins in Sandymount usually around 12 noon. The funds from this particular Wren celebration normally go to a local charity.

Actually, the famous Irish writer John B. Keane based his novel ‘The Bodhran Maker’ on the activities of the Wren Boys in his native County Kerry – it’s a really good read!