St. Stephen’s Day Bird Ritual

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31333, 1 April 1967, Page 5

St. Stephen’s Day Bird Ritual

(Specially written for "The Press" by DERRICK ROONEY.) The wren, the wren, the king of all birds. On St. Stephen’s Day got caught in the furze. Vp with the holly and ivy tree, Where all the birds will sing to me. Knock at the knocker and ring at the bell. Give us a copper for singing so well. If you’re in Cork —or indeed, any part of Ireland except Ulster —on St. Stephen’s Day the chances are good that you will see a curiouslydressed band of children patrolling the streets and singing this song, and even better that they will solicit some money from you—for it is in Ireland that the tradition of the Wren Hunt on St. Stephen’s Day, widespread in Britain and Europe, survives most strongly. The ritual varies from district to district in Ireland. In some it is a relatively simple affair for boys about 10; in others it involves the young men of the district in rituals as elaborate as the British Mummers Plays at the May festivals.

A typical party has between four and 10 members, the leader of whom carries the dead wren on a branch of holly or ivy, or on sticks shaped like a cross, or in a hollowed-out turnip. They go from door to door, singing the wren song (usually in English) and beating on improvised drums, and in the evening they meet to pool the take for a party. In some districts grown men take part, disguising themselves with horns and goat-skins, and carrying wooden swords or the bladder of a pig, inflated and mounted on a stick. The revellers wear a variety of clothing, ranging from castoff overcoats to suits of straw or dresses.

AIT this adds up to one of the most elaborate bird