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Saint Stephen’s Day Dec 26th:
Ireland. The Hunting of the Wren: The wren is the King of the Birds
and part of the Old Year that must be dispensed with. Village boys hunted wrens
and mounted them on holly poles. Today an empty cage is displayed to symbolize
the wren. Boys parade from house to house singing the wren song and asking for
burial money. (3)
In Britain the Hooden Horse, a man disguised as a horse with four to eight supporters collects money from houses in exchange for songs, dances, and games. Coins are put in its mouth. In return the Hooden Horse offers wise sayings. This is the origin of the term Straight from the Horses Mouth.
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