Wrenning Day
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
St. Stephen's Day (Dec. 26th) used to be so called, because it was a custom among villagers to stone a wren to death on that day in commemoration of the saint's martyrdom.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
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Common questions
What does “Wrenning Day” mean?
St. Stephen's Day (Dec. 26th) used to be so called, because it was a custom among villagers to stone a wren to death on that day in commemoration of the saint's martyrdom.
Is “Wrenning Day” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.
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