Wren Day

Wren Boys in Ireland - via Wikimedia

Along with all the other December 26 celebrations, today is also Wren Day in some countries.

Today is when "wren-boys" go from house to house, carrying a holly bush adorned with ribbons and figures of birds, and singing. 

"The wren, the wren, the king of all birds,
St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze,
Although he is little, his family's great,
I pray you, good landlady, give us a treat.
If you haven't a penny a halfpenny will do.
If you haven't a halfpenny God bless you."

In the distant past, actual wrens were hunted and captured for the poles the wren boys carried. Thankfully, in the past century, it has become fake birds that are used. The marching wren boys go from house to house asking for donations. A donation might get you a feather from the bird for good luck. 

The money collected is used to host a "Wren Ball" for the town on a night in January. 

From what I have read, now it is more of a day of revelry with costume disguises, and because people sometimes play tricks on their friends, it reminds me of American Halloween trick-or-treating.  As a child, we used to bring a UNICEF box on our Halloween rounds to collect money to help children. Wren "boys" can also be girls now and if money is collected it usually is donated to a school or charity.