Those with an interest in European anthropology are likely familiar with "The Golden Bough" by Sir James G. Frazer, first published in 2 volumes in 1890, later revised and expanded by its third edition in 1906-1915 to 12 volumes with a staggering 5,000 pages total. Frazer was the first modern scholar to document pagan folk traditions of the British isles and continental Europe, from ancient Greece and Rome up until their remaining practices that were still ongoing in some rural European areas into the late 19th century. Anyone who's seen the classic folk horror film "The Wicker Man" (the 1973 version with Christopher Lee, not the awful Hollywood remake starring Nicholas Cage) may see where this is going. I promise to get to the birding part shortly...
"The Golden Bough" is considered to be the cornerstone of modern documentation of European pre-Christian folk traditions, comparative religion and pagan magical practices. It directly inspired poet Robert Graves' seminal 1948 study "The White Goddess", as well as dozens of works you can find today in your local New Age book store today. In "The Golden Bough" Frazer thoroughly examines the lore of the "King of Birds", which happens to be the Wren (species) found throughout Ireland, the British Isles and other areas in Europe, and whose related folk practices center around the time of the winter solstice, especially St. Stephen's Day (Dec. 26). I'll let Gemini handle the in-depth explanation:
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The "Hunting of the Wren" is a traditional custom observed in Ireland, particularly in Leinster and Connacht, around St. Stephen's Day (December 26th). It involves the hunting and killing of a wren, which is then displayed on a pole and paraded through the community.
This practice shares similarities with other European traditions, such as the "Fête du Roi de l'Oiseau" (Feast of the King of Birds) in Carcassonne, France, and similar rituals described in James George Frazer's seminal work "The Golden Bough." These rituals often involve the symbolic killing and revival of a sacred king or animal, representing the cycle of the seasons and the renewal of life.
It's important to note that the "Hunting of the Wren" has faced criticism in recent years due to animal welfare concerns. Many animal rights organizations oppose the killing of the wren and advocate for the preservation of this tradition in a more humane and symbolic way."
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Like the still practiced Gloucester, UK annual Cheese Rolling event (where crazy people break bones running down a steep rocky hill after a large wheel of cheese, an ancient tradition seemingly tailor-made for YouTube), in ancient times a symbol of the sun), the Hunting of the Wren is likely a remnant of pre-Christian Druidic practices.
The relevant birding part (for those bored and annoyed with the rest of my post):
We had a Carolina Wren today in Hiram, which discovered the suet block and shelled peanuts and seemed to have a great time exploring the yard, coming back again and again to feed. We've had others here in the past at various times of the year, but those only made brief appearances. This one really seems to like the feeder station, so who knows, maybe it will still be around on Dec. 26 and camera hunting will continue the tradition.
Winter Wrens are also great to see this time of year, if you're lucky enough to be out in the woods when one pops up.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays, splendid solstice, etc.
Sean Smith
Hiram, ME
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