Hunt the Wren

Hunt the Wren is perhaps the most public and joyous expression of Manx identity, when communities come together on St. Stephen's Day (the 26th of December) to dance and sing around the streets.

The practice, dating back to Pagan times, is centred on a wren, "the king of all birds," which is hunted and then danced through the streets on a special pole. (In case it needs stating, the bird in the wren pole today is just a replica!)

In December 2016 we visited Port St. Mary to speak to some of the people involved...