| rdfs:comment | - St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, is a Christian saint's day celebrated on December 26 in the Western Church and December 27 in the Eastern Church. Many Eastern Orthodox churches adhere to the Julian calendar and mark St. Stephen's Day on December 27 according to that calendar, which places it on January 9 according to the Gregorian calendar used in secular (and Western) contexts. It commemorates St Stephen, the first Christian martyr or protomartyr.
- St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, was a Christian saint's day. It commemorated St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and was celebrated the day after Christmas, 26 December on the Terran calendar. It was also known as Boxing Day in the Great Britain and Canada, and Wren's day in Ireland, the Isle of Man and Wales. The wren, the wren, the king of all birds, On St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze, So up with the kettle and down with the pan, Won't you give us a penny to bury the wren? Down with the kettle and up with the pan, Give us a penny and let us be gone!
- In Ireland, the day is one of nine official public holidays. In Irish, it is called Lá Fhéile Stiofán or Lá an Dreoilín — the latter translates literally as another English name used, the Day of the Wren or Wren's Day. When used in this context, "wren" is often pronounced "ran". This name alludes to several legends, including those found in Ireland linking episodes in the life of Jesus to the wren. Although now mostly a discontinued tradition, in certain parts of Ireland persons carrying either an effigy of a wren or an actual caged wren (live or dead), travel from house to house playing music, singing and dancing. Depending on which region of the country, they are called Wrenboys and Mummers. A Mummer's Festival is held at this time every year in the village of New Inn, County Galway and
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| abstract | - St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, is a Christian saint's day celebrated on December 26 in the Western Church and December 27 in the Eastern Church. Many Eastern Orthodox churches adhere to the Julian calendar and mark St. Stephen's Day on December 27 according to that calendar, which places it on January 9 according to the Gregorian calendar used in secular (and Western) contexts. It commemorates St Stephen, the first Christian martyr or protomartyr.
- St. Stephen's Day, or the Feast of St. Stephen, was a Christian saint's day. It commemorated St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and was celebrated the day after Christmas, 26 December on the Terran calendar. It was also known as Boxing Day in the Great Britain and Canada, and Wren's day in Ireland, the Isle of Man and Wales. Various traditions were a part of St. Stephen's Day celebrations, especially in Ireland. Boys would dress up in masks and act the part of "wrenboys", chasing wren birds with sticks. Afterwards they would beginning "mumming," or caroling from house to house. The verse they would sing was: The wren, the wren, the king of all birds, On St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze, So up with the kettle and down with the pan, Won't you give us a penny to bury the wren? Down with the kettle and up with the pan, Give us a penny and let us be gone! The money these mummers would raise was ostensibly to bury the wren, but really to hold a dance for the town, called the "wren dance." It was often the highlight of the Christmas season in rural Ireland. In contrast, a Welsh tradition involved bleeding livestock, and flogging late risers and female servants with holly branches. Thankfully it was discontinued by the 19th century. Wren's Day was still celebrated in Ireland in the 24th century. Growing up in Dublin, it was a favorite holiday of Miles O'Brien and his siblings. His mother, Fionnula O'Brien, would always hold a massive wren dance, and her children and foster children would go mumming through the town. As an adult, Miles' foster sister, Jean Brennan, continued the tradition with her family. After Jean's death, St. Stephen's Day became an even more important day for Timothy Sinclair, one he always made sure to spend with his sons, Jeff and Tyler. (Star Trek: Pendragon: "Twilight's Call", "Midnight Clear", "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day")
- In Ireland, the day is one of nine official public holidays. In Irish, it is called Lá Fhéile Stiofán or Lá an Dreoilín — the latter translates literally as another English name used, the Day of the Wren or Wren's Day. When used in this context, "wren" is often pronounced "ran". This name alludes to several legends, including those found in Ireland linking episodes in the life of Jesus to the wren. Although now mostly a discontinued tradition, in certain parts of Ireland persons carrying either an effigy of a wren or an actual caged wren (live or dead), travel from house to house playing music, singing and dancing. Depending on which region of the country, they are called Wrenboys and Mummers. A Mummer's Festival is held at this time every year in the village of New Inn, County Galway and Dingle County Kerry. St Stephen's Day is also a popular day for visiting family members. A popular rhyme, known to many Irish children and sung at each house visited by the mummers goes as follows (this version popularized by the Irish group The Clancy Brothers): The wren, the wren, the king of all birds, St. Stephen's Day was caught in the furze, Although he was little his honour was great, Jump up me lads and give us a treat. As I was going to Killenaule, I met a wren upon the wall. Up with me wattle and knocked him down, And brought him in to Carrick Town. Drooolin, Droolin, where’s your nest? Tis in the bush that I love best In the tree, the holly tree, Where all the boys do follow me. Up with the kettle and down with the pan, And give us a penny to bury the wren. I followed the wren three miles or more, Three miles or more three miles or more. I followed the wren three miles or more, At six o’clock in the morning. I have a little box under me arm, Under me arm under me arm. I have a little box under me arm, A penny or tuppence would do it no harm. Mrs. Clancy's a very good woman, a very good woman, a very good woman, Mrs. Clancy's a very good woman, She give us a penny to bury the wren.
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