Information about Wrenboys
In various parts of Ireland on St. Stephen's Day, December 26th, Wrenboys (mummers) celebrate the Wren (also pronounced as the Wran) by dressing up in straw masks and colourful clothing and, accompanied by traditional céilà music bands, parade through the towns and villages. The tradition also exists (or existed) in various parts of Britain, especially Wales.
Some people theorise that the Wren celebration has descended from Celtic mythology. Sources suggest that Druids apparently studied the flight of the wren, amongst other birds, to derive predictions about the future. It may also have been introduced or influenced by Scandinavian settlers during the Viking invasions of the 8th-10th Centuries. Various associated legends exist, such as the wren bird being responsible for betraying Irish soldiers who fought the Viking invaders in the late first and early second millennia, and for betraying the Christian martyr Saint Stephen, after whom the day is named.
This mythological association with treachery is a probable reason why in past times the bird was hunted by Wrenboys on St. Stephen's Day. A captured wren was killed and tied to the Wrenboy leader's staff pole. Wrenboys no longer practice this aspect of the Wren, although the event is still referred to as Hunting The Wren. Devoted Wrenboys, with their colourful straw costumes and masks, and with the accompanying céilà bands, continue to ensure that the Gaelic tradition of celebrating the Wren continues to this day.
Some people theorise that the Wren celebration has descended from Celtic mythology. Sources suggest that Druids apparently studied the flight of the wren, amongst other birds, to derive predictions about the future. It may also have been introduced or influenced by Scandinavian settlers during the Viking invasions of the 8th-10th Centuries. Various associated legends exist, such as the wren bird being responsible for betraying Irish soldiers who fought the Viking invaders in the late first and early second millennia, and for betraying the Christian martyr Saint Stephen, after whom the day is named.
This mythological association with treachery is a probable reason why in past times the bird was hunted by Wrenboys on St. Stephen's Day. A captured wren was killed and tied to the Wrenboy leader's staff pole. Wrenboys no longer practice this aspect of the Wren, although the event is still referred to as Hunting The Wren. Devoted Wrenboys, with their colourful straw costumes and masks, and with the accompanying céilà bands, continue to ensure that the Gaelic tradition of celebrating the Wren continues to this day.
Songs
In 1955 Liam Clancy recorded "The Wran Song" (the Wren song), which was sung in Ireland by Wrenboys. In 1972 Steeleye Span recorded "The King" on "Please to See the King", which is along similar lines. They made another version on their album "Time". "Hunting the Wren" is on John Kirkpatrick's album "Wassail!". The Chieftains made a collection of Wrenboy tunes on "Bells of Dublin". The custom has been revived in Suffolk in the 1990s.External links
- Hunting the Wren on the Dingle peninsula - An excellent account of the origins, history, contemporary aspects and international connections of the Wren.
- Discussions about the Wren song
Ireland
Éire
Airlann <nowiki />
Northwest of continental Europe with Great Britain to the east.
Geography <nowiki/>
Location Western Europe <nowiki />
Archipelago
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Éire
Airlann <nowiki />
Northwest of continental Europe with Great Britain to the east.
Geography <nowiki/>
Location Western Europe <nowiki />
Archipelago
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St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, is a Christian saint's day celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and 27 December in the Eastern Church. Many Eastern Orthodox churches adhere to the Julian calendar and mark St Stephen's Day on 27 December according
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December 26 is the 1st day of the year (2nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 0 days remaining.
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Events
- 1481 - Battle of Westbroek - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht.
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Troglodytidae
Swainson, 1832
Genera
Odontorchilus
Salpinctes
Microcerculus
Campylorhynchus
Catherpes
Hylorchilus
Thryomanes
Thryothorus
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Swainson, 1832
Genera
Odontorchilus
Salpinctes
Microcerculus
Campylorhynchus
Catherpes
Hylorchilus
Thryomanes
Thryothorus
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A Céilidh or céilà (pronounced "kay-lee") is a social event or disco, typically with Celtic music and dancing. The word céilidh is Scottish Gaelic for 'visit', denoting the event's origin as an informal, home gathering.
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Motto
"Dieu et mon droit" [2] (French)
"God and my right"
Anthem
"God Save the Queen" [3]
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"Dieu et mon droit" [2] (French)
"God and my right"
Anthem
"God Save the Queen" [3]
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Motto
Cymru am byth (Welsh)
"Wales forever"
Anthem
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"
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Cymru am byth (Welsh)
"Wales forever"
Anthem
"Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau"
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Celtic mythology is the mythology of Celtic polytheism, apparently the religion of the Iron Age Celts. Like other Iron Age Europeans, the early Celts maintained a polytheistic mythology and religious structure.
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druid denotes the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies, which existed through much of Western Europe and in Britain and Ireland until they were supplanted by Roman government and, later, Christianity.
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Viking, also called Norseman or Northman, refers to a member of the Scandinavian seafaring traders, warriors and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the 8th to the 11th century[1]
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Christianity
Foundations
Jesus Christ
Church Theology
New Covenant Supersessionism
Dispensationalism
Apostles Kingdom Gospel
History of Christianity Timeline
Bible
Old Testament New Testament
Books Canon Apocrypha
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Foundations
Jesus Christ
Church Theology
New Covenant Supersessionism
Dispensationalism
Apostles Kingdom Gospel
History of Christianity Timeline
Bible
Old Testament New Testament
Books Canon Apocrypha
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Saint Stephen (Greek: Στέφανος/Stephanos), known as the Protomartyr (Greek: Πρωτομάρτυρας/Protomartyras) (or first martyr) of Christianity, is venerated as a saint
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St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, is a Christian saint's day celebrated on 26 December in the Western Church and 27 December in the Eastern Church. Many Eastern Orthodox churches adhere to the Julian calendar and mark St Stephen's Day on 27 December according
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Gaels are an ethno-linguistic group which originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to Scotland and the Isle of Man. Their language is of the Gaelic family, a division of Insular Celtic languages.
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Liam Clancy (born on September 2, 1935) (Irish;Liam Mac Fhlannchadha) is an Irish folk singer. With his brothers Tom, and Patrick Clancy, as well as Tommy Makem, he was part of the popular group The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem.
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Steeleye Span are a British electric folk band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles Gaudete
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John Kirkpatrick is an English player of free reed instruments.
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In London
John Kirkpatrick was born 8 August 1947 in Chiswick, West London. As a youngster he sang in the choir and played piano...... Click the link for more information.
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1963, best known for being the first band to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.
The band's name came from the book Death of a Chieftain by Irish author John Montague.
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The band's name came from the book Death of a Chieftain by Irish author John Montague.
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