The Wren boys
On St. Stephen's day the young boys and girls of this district go about from house to house collecting money for the wren. The adults go in groups of tens while the school going children travel in twos and threes. In former days clashes often occurred between rival gangs but no such occurrences are witnessed nowadays. The dead wren is hoisted on a pitchfork by the leader and carried by him on the rounds. He is not masked but his companions wear old tattered clothes usually turned inside out and their headgear consists of an old straw hat decked with goose quills. As soon as they enter the house a tune is struck up on the melodeon or mouth organ and a very unusual kind of timing is made on the floor with the feet. They are generally very courteous even when they are not given money. At midnight, they