The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #153177   Message #3586010
Posted By: Tug the Cox
23-Dec-13 - 10:48 AM
Thread Name: Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day songs
Subject: RE: Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day songs
I believe that the Wren hunting was originally a twelfth night custom. When the 11 days were 'lost' in 1752 when the calendar was realigned, many people kept the 'old christmas' for a while,and 12th night fell on 26th Dec. The line 'Old Christmas is past, 12th night is the last, chimes with this.