School: Glaise Buí, Malla
- Location:
- Glashaboy East, Co. Cork
- Teacher: Conchobhar Ó Drisceoil
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0364, Page 179
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- XML “Festival Customs”
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- Festival CustomsIt is customary on Saint Stephen's Day to have the young boys of the country go around from house to house collecting money. These are called wren boys. They carry in their hands a limb of holly and ivy which is decorated with ribbons and a wren in the middle. When they come to the door they sing the following song :The wren the wren the king of all birds.
On Saint Stephen's Day he was caught in the furge.
From bush to bush from tree to tree.
At Beeing Cross he broke his knee.
We have a little box under our arm.
Twopence or three pence will do it no harm.
Up with the kettle down with the pot.
Give us our answer and let us be off.
Then the woman of the house would give one of the boys sixpence or a shilling. When they have a lot of money gathered they divide it among(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Eily Murphy
- Gender
- Female
- Address
- Boola, Co. Cork
