Why do the Irish 'Feed the Wren?'
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Published in Daily Trivia
The Irish custom of "feeding the wren" on December 26 consists of carrying a wren door to door, to collect money for charity. The custom is based on a legend of St. Stephen. Once he was forced to hide in a bush, but a chattering wren gave him away. Children cage the wren to help it do penance for this misdeed. Often the children carry a long pole with a holly bush at the top — which is supposed to hide a captured wren.
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