Lá an Dreoilín! On 26 Dec, #WrenDay traditions thrive across #Ireland, especially in #Dingle. Groups known as Wrenboys dress in straw suits and masks, parading through towns with music and dance. This ancient custom celebrates community spirit and folklore. Dive into the origins of these festivities on Vicipéid.

🔗 GA: https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lá_an_Dreoilín
🔗 EN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wren_Day

I just saw this on the Wikipedia page of #WrenDay, which is today.
So a fairy who enchanted men to marry her, made them forget about their responsibilities, lured them into the ocean where they drowned, then she shapeshifted into a wren to fly away when one got too close and was cursed and is hunted for the witch that she is.

Dat me!!! 😜
#ProbablyAWitch

"In Manx folklore, the origin of the wren hunt (Manx: shelg yn drean) is linked with a beautiful fairy woman. The story goes that the woman enchanted all the men of the island to follow her in hope of marrying her, and they neglected their homes and fields. The fairy woman lured the men into the sea where they drowned. One day a hero found a way of averting her charms. But before she could be defeated, she shapeshifted into a wren and flew away. However, she was cursed to re-appear once a year as a wren, and this is why the wren is hunted on this day"

Today we celebrate the wren.

When God told the birds of the world to choose a king, they decided it should be whoever could fly the highest (I guess the ostriches and penguins weren't invited).

The wren sneakily clung to the eagle's breast. The eagle flew higher than all the other birds, but then the wren darted out from under him flew just that little bit higher.

And that's why the wren is the king of birds.

#WrenDay #StStephensDay #SaintStephensDay

The wren, the wren, the king of all birds
On St Stephen's Day he was caught in the Furze
Although he was little his family was great
So up with the kettle and down with the pan
And give us a penny to bury the wren.

#WrenDay #StStephensDay #SaintStephensDay #Ireland #Mastodaoine

Boxing Day arrives
For many for boxing up
All they just unpacked

#Haiku #OneHaikuADay #WritersCollective #writingcommunity #BackToHaiku #Christmas #BoxingDay #ChristmasTide #StStephensDay #FeedThePoor #HelpTheNeedy #Xmas #WrenDay #Holiday

December 26, 2023

The #wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
#StStephensDay he was caught in the furze
Although he was little
His family was great
So up with the kettle and down with the pan
And give us a penny to bury the wren
If you haven't got a penny
A ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny
Then God bless you.

#WrenDay #SaintStephensDay

# # #WrenDay # Lá an dreoilín. # #
A history in quotes.

(1) The first mention of hunting the wren i can find is in "Miscellanies Upon Various Subjects" by John Aubrey, published first in 1696, reprinted with additions in 1721.

I'd suspect this is a retcon, creating an explanation for an existing feature os Irish life. It's set around the time if a battle fought 21st June 1650 between Sir Charles Coote and Bishop Heber MacMahon near Letterkenny
https://www.letterkennyhistory.com/the-sword-of-scarrifhollis/

Quote in next tweet...