THE ST STEPHEN’S DAY MASSACRE

The Wren is a bird with a rather unfortunate connection to Christmas.

There is an old Irish legend that claims that when St Stephen was imprisoned, he would have made good his escape had it not been for the chirping of the Wrens.

As a result, from that day forward in Ireland every St Stephen’s day, December 26^th, in a ceremony called “the Wren massacre” Wrens were stoned to death.

Since the 1920’s the custom has thankfully died out.