A December page from 'The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady' by Edith Holden. The only poet called James Graham I could find was a C17 Scot - First Marquis of Montrose. Do wrens continue to sing in snow? Not sure about that
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A few years ago I wrote about a rather strange old custom called 'Hunting the Wren' .This usually took place on December 26th when men and boys went shooting for all sorts of small woodland wildlife but specifically wrens. In another book (The English Year by Steve Roud) I've now found more. In Ireland, Wales, South West England and the Isle of Man the wren would be killed, then placed in a box or a garlanded 'bush' and taken round the streets by groups singing, dancing and playing instruments and collecting money in exchange for a wren's feather, which were considered lucky. The groups were called 'wrenboys' and some would also perform a mummers' play.
A traditional song began with
The Wren, the wren, the king of all birds
St Stephen's Day was caught in the furze.
Apparently the idea that the wren was the king of the birds was known all over Europe and came from a folk tale.
In a competition to see who should be king of the birds, the eagle flew higher and faster than all the others. But just as he was about to proclaim himself his victory, the wren, who had hidden in the eagle's feathers, popped out and flew a few inches higher, to claim the title.
Another old story explains why it was wrens that were hunted and killed.
Somewhere in the past there was a battle which was about to be won when a wren flew down and warned the opposition, by pecking on a drum, that they were about to be ambushed. The enemies are sometimes 'the English' and in other stories 'The Danes' depending on where the story was told.
Seems so odd that such a small, now much-loved bird, was so disliked in the past.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
The Wren Boys still perform in parts of Ireland on St Stephen's Day, though nowadays they have a fake wren!
ReplyDeleteThank you for up to date information and thank goodness they have a fake wren now!
DeleteWhen I went to school on the Isle of Man in the 1970's we were taught a country dance called Hunt the Wren and sang a song of the same name in Manx Gaelic. Penny
ReplyDeleteInteresting to hear of the tradition for real
Deleteone of our sweetest and shyest of the garden birds. Anything less like a "trog" I couldn't imagine, whatever a trog is!
ReplyDeleteI read it comes from 'cave dweller' because they all huddle together in a hole to roost
DeleteOh my goodness-what a story! Glad that custom has died out. Catriona
ReplyDeleteYes. Thank goodness.
DeleteOur wildlife has been persecuted for many strange reasons through the centuries. Must be careful saying 'wren boys' - so easy to get the wrong idea!
ReplyDeleteYes, mustn't slip up there at all!
DeleteYes, there is still the Hunting the Wren tradition over here too although, as Joan says, ours is also a fake one, thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteI read that sometimes more recently it was potato with feathers stuck in!
DeleteI love to see the tiny wrens bobbing around the garden, that's a fascinating bit of their history.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
They never sit still for a photo - annoyingly
DeleteFascinating. The Wren seems to carry lots of folklore and traditions continuing in updated forms today. I've heard nothing about Wren folklore in the US. Such small birds with lucky feathers! Massachusetts has the Northern Wren and I see them regularly.
ReplyDeleteI shall look up the difference between them
DeleteI think of wrens as being a very curious bird. There was one or more that would manage to get into our screened in porch when we lived at The Lodge. It was quite a job to get it out too.
ReplyDeleteThey are very shy here, hiding in bushes and never sit still
DeletePeople can be so cruel, can't they?
ReplyDeleteThat was interesting, thanks. xx
Certainly some odd traditions in the past
DeleteI loved the wren on farthings when I was a child
ReplyDeleteI can't remember using them, I guess I never had pocket money back then.
DeleteWhat a story! Poor bird.
ReplyDeleteIt seems so odd now
DeleteWhy on earth would someone shoot such a small bird as a wren? I love them, they are so cute at the feeders.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
They don't go onto the feeders here but I see them hopping about in the shrubs
DeleteAh that's really sad. I love wrens. For such little birds they have such loud voices! Sometimes, in the spring and summer I can hear them louder than any bird!
ReplyDelete