Guitar: Hunt The Wren

A traditional song from the Isle of Man, sung on Boxing Day (St Stephen's Day) by 'mummers' called 'The White Boys'. They would go round from house to house and perform a moralistic play and finish up singing this song. The story behind it is of a sea-witch who was enslaved by Mannanan (the Manx god of the sea) for her wicked ways of luring sailors onto the rocks and their death. One day a year he let her roam free in the form of a small bird, the wren. On that day, any fishermen catching her could kill her and the day concerned was St Stephen's Day.
There is a similar tradition in other Celtic countries, especially in Ireland where a song called 'The Wren Song' has a final verse almost identical to this Manx song. (Check out The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem's Children's Songs)

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Music

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• Hunt The Wren
• Isle
• of
• Man
• Manx
• Christmas
• Traditions
• Mummers
• White Boys
• St
• Stephen's
• Day
• threelegsoman
• Lyrics
• Acoustic
• Guitar

[ThePinkBinks]

Thanks for this. I've lived off Island for the past 7 years and now it's coming up to new year again and time to hunt the wren you were perfect for showing my Off Island boyfriend what it was. ;-) x

If you've got any good Manx folk songs I could pass onto him I've love it if you felt like emailing them to me. Here's hoping you do. Send the message to me on here if you're up for it.

Nice to hear a Manx voice again. :-)

[threelegsoman]

Look at my playlist Manx Folk Songs. I will send you a link in a minute

[ThePinkBinks]

Thanks for this. I've lived off Island for the past 7 years and now it's coming up to new year again and time to hunt the wren you were perfect for showing my Off Island boyfriend what it was. ;-) x

[threelegsoman]

Always happy to oblige.

[rachelk1555]

lovely.. must try dat song this year lol

[threelegsoman]

As I say regarding your country's song called The Wren Song which I have also uploaded, the tradition is very similar and one of the verses is practically identical, so why not do a swap and sing the Manx song for a change. Good luck with it. :-))

[AtharAqua]

now try it without the pauses :D

[777SunnySmile]

Nicve video !

Well done !

Great voice !

5 stars !

Anastasia =)

[Cakeater3000]

i do love it though its much better than the one i know x

[threelegsoman]

This is how I remember it being sung by 'The White Boys' some 50 odd years ago if memory serves. :))