School: Clochar na Trócaire, Baile Mathúna (roll number 3865)

Location:
Ballymahon, Co. Longford
Teacher:
Sr. M. Clement
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0751, Page 479

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0751, Page 479

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  1. XML School: Clochar na Trócaire, Baile Mathúna
  2. XML Page 479
  3. XML “Festival Customs”

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  1. (continued from previous page)
    St. Stephen's Day
    St. Stephen's Day is the second day of the Twelve Days of Christmas. It falls on the twenty-sixth of December. People say that on that day St. Stephen was hiding from his enemies he hid behind a tree and the wren flew out and betrayed him and on that day the young boys go out hunting the wren and long ago they used to say the following rhyme.
    "The Wren, the Wren,
    The king of all birds,
    St. Stephens Day,
    He was caught in the furze.
    Although he was small,
    The family is great,
    Get up young laidies,
    And give us a treat.
    And if the treat be of the worst,
    It won't agree with the Wren-boys all,
    And if the treat be of the best,
    I hope in Heaven your soul will rest
    Here comes I says Beezebub,
    And under my arm I carry my club,
    And in my hand a frying pan,
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Topics
    1. events
      1. events (by time of year) (~11,476)
    Language
    English
    Collector
    Pauline Kearns
    Gender
    Female
    Age
    13
    Address
    Ballymulvey, Co. Longford