🏆 WREN Boy Costume Competition — St. Stephen’s Day

🏆 WREN Boy Costume Competition — St. Stephen’s Day

🗓️ Fri, Dec 26 • 3–6 PM • Fifth Province Pub (IAHC)

Step into one of Ireland’s most colorful winter traditions: Wren Day (Lá an Dreoilín). Historically, on December 26th in Ireland & the Isle of Man, a wren would be hunted, displayed, and paraded around the neighborhood by costumed “wren boys,” wearing straw masks, greenery, ribbons, and motley patchwork—singing festive songs while collecting donations. Today, the tradition has been revived, though wren are no longer hunted and a stuffed or fake wren is used in its place. The wren boys often collect money for local charities or to host a town dance. While the origin of this interesting holiday is uncertain, it is still celebrated as a unique slice of Irish culture. We’re bringing that spirit to the Fifth Province for an afternoon of music, story, and community.

What to expect:

🎶🎻 Live tunes & singalongs—yes, we’ll belt “The Wren, The Wren”!

📸 Mini “parade” inside the pub followed by a group photo.

👒 Costume contest (Wrenboy-inspired only are eligible): straw/raffia headpieces, greenery (holly/ivy), ribbons, patchwork coats, face veils, and other folk touches.

📖📚 Stories & quick history between sets—why the wren is the “king of birds,” how communities marked St. Stephen’s Day, and how the custom lives on today.

🏆 Contest details:

-Categories: Most Traditional, Most Creative, Best Group/Family, Judge’s Choice.

-How to enter: Check in at the host stand by 4:00 PM for a number. Judging at 5:00 PM; winners announced by 5:30 PM.

-All costumes welcome, but only Wrenboy-inspired outfits qualify for prizes.

💡✍🏼 Inspiration & notes:

-We’ve included reference photos in this post to spark ideas—feel free to research and riff on the tradition.

-Bring instruments if you’d like to join a tune or two.

-This is a symbolic celebration—no animals involved.

Bring your greenery, straw and spark—let’s hunt the craic, not the wren. See you on St. Stephen’s Day in the Fifth Province! ☘️