manx celtic music and dance

Hunt the Wren 2014

04 Dec 2014


HUNT THE WREN ~  26th December
 
The custom of hunting the wren every St Stephen’s day is not peculiar to the Isle of Man, but it remains a strong continuous tradition here which is celebrated around the Island by various community groups.
 
As well as the song, the Island also has a circular dance around a wren pole, and this is performed outdoors on the morning of St Stephen’s Day, and celebrations must be over and done with by 12pm sharp!
 
The dead wren would be suspended on a pole decorated with ribbons and evergreen leaves. The feathers were a sign of good luck. Don’t worry - a fake wren is used today!
 
Learn the song, tune and dance via this wiki
 
WHERE, OH WHERE?
Join in the fun with one of these local events:
St Johns - meet 10.30am in the Arboretum car park
Kirk Michael/Ballaugh/Sulby - 11am at the Mitre in Kirk Michael then onto Ballaugh and Sulby
Port St Mary - 10am outside the school 
Douglas - 10.15am outside the Woodbourne Hotel, Alexander Drive. All welcome, especially to play, dance, sing
on occasion, or collect some money for Douglas Lifeboat. Dance away that Xmas dinner!
Douglas - 9.30am on Woodlands Close, then around the streets
Ramsey - 10.30am Maughold Social Club will meet outside St Paul’s Church. All welcome.

 

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