Pacific wrens are a fairly unknown bird in the western united states, and there aren't any documented cases of them in Native American culture in the Pacific Northwest. However, the wren family consists of several birds species that hold a special role in some human cultures around the world.
EUROPE
The most notable mention of Wrens in human culture lays with the Celts. The Celtic people of Europe
were prominent from around 300 BC and eventually mixed with other societies to form what is modern day Europe. Current descendants of the Celts include some Irish, Scottish, and British peoples. The Wren was protected and considered the King of the Birds and legends say that "whoever tried to steal wren’s eggs or baby wrens would find their homes struck by lightning and their hands would shrivel up." Early forms of the holiday for wrens comes from when novice druids would go out on new year in order to fulfill the difficult task of finding the little birds as well as wisdom:
Wren's Day is celebrated annually on December 26th. The holiday, which is on St. Stevens day, is where a group (also known as the Wren Boys) dresses in "masks, straw suits, and colourful motley clothing" (Wikipedia) and parades around town while playing music and "hunting" a wren. (In the past, a real wren was hunted but in modern times a fake one is hunted and mounted on the pole used in the parade.) This event celebrates the wren which is considered the "King Bird" in Celtic folklore. What is the significance of Wren's Day? Well, in Dingle, Ireland Wren's Day represents a special time of year that the community comes together. The Wren Boys travel through the town and to the hospital greeting the patients and reminiscing on people that have passed. It's a great event for cheering up the town in the winter.
Hailed as the wisdomic creature
druid’s divinity fed by your prescence
upon their quest of a spiritual vision
in millions of moons past residence
your smallness is beautiful, gentle friend
subtle, cheeky, drui-en Wren
you travel on the wings of eagles
to any heights little Wren
legend beholds your wings of fire
[...] your unhatched eggs
your druids nest high and sound
concealed, protected by lightening strikes
wisdom you call is too profound
for you say in order to change or grow
we have to hide in safety grounds
to reform our journey in the womb of time
to find and rekindle a gift to astound. (A poem by Sianna Phey)
In the town of Dingle, Ireland, the face of Wren's Day is shown with pride and festivities. The new way to celebrate is by the men sharing a drink and building their straw costumes, parading with a marching band, and the whole community having a cheery time together.
Wren Boys in Dingle, Ireland (also known as mummers or straw boys)
So why is the Wren considered the King Bird when it's very minor compared to something like an Lammergeier or a beautiful Bird of Paradise? Here is the story of how the Wren became king of the birds:
" Many years ago, all the birds of the world gathered to decide which of them would be the king of the birds.
After many days of debate, they decided that they would hold a contest. Whichever bird could fly the highest would be the king of the birds.
On the day of the competition, all the birds took off into the air. The small song birds quickly tired, their fragile wings unable to carry them far. They were soon joined by the ducks, crows, and many others. In short order, only the strongest of the eagles still climbed into the sky.
This eagle climbed higher and higher, until the last of his competition gave up and returned to earth. He smugly congratulated himself, and began his descent. He was exhausted from the competition, and needed to recover. As he was falling, he heard a small bright voice above him calling “I am king! I am king!” It was the little brown wren, fluttering above him. She had carefully, quietly, hidden among his feathers, and ridden his back into the sky.
The eagle was furious, but he was too exhausted from the competition to fly higher.
When the wren landed the small birds cried in joy and surprise. They were sure that one of the larger birds would win the competition, but had been too afraid to complain. The large birds were furious. “You only won through trickery and cunning, and that’s not fair,” they complained.
“Eagle would have won through strength and brawn. Why is that better than cunning? If you have your doubts name another challenge and I will win once more,” the wren replied.
The large birds chatted among themselves, and came up with a solution. “We have a new competition. Whichever bird can swoop the lowest will be the king of the birds.”
The birds began the new competition, diving down to glide along the ground. Wren saw a small mouse-hole in the earth and climbed into it. She called out “I am king! I am king! I am the lowest!”
The large birds were furious, and decided that the wren could be the king, but she would never rule them. They each took turns standing guard at the hole, waiting to kill the wren if she tried to climb out.
Days passed, and wren stubbornly remained in her hole. One night, the owl was guarding the hole, watching the wren with large yellow eyes. When the morning sunlight peeked over the horizon, it momentarily blinded the owl. The wren saw this as her chance, and quickly escaped from the hole.
The little brown wren is still the king of the birds, but she is so afraid of the eagles and hawks that she stays hidden in hedges and bushes. They will kill her if given the chance, as they are ashamed that she won their competitions. All the other birds visit her for advice, as she is so clever and cunning.
This story is based on a traditional folktale from the British Isles. The wren is a small brown bird, commonly referenced in Celtic folklore, and symbolizes life, energy, and cleverness.
On December 26th, the feast day of St. Stephen, it was traditional to hunt the wren. The bird would be placed on a decorated poll, and paraded through the village. In modern times a fake bird is used, and the day is celebrated with music and dancing. " (ECCSimpson)
AMERICA
 |
| Turposkwa Kachina (Canyon Wren) |
Native American culture mentions the wren (the pacific or winter wren--its not specified) very little since there are lots of other animal folklore. However, in the Hopi tribe of Southwestern North America, the Canyon Wren is represented by the Kachina doll Turposkwa. In the mythical history of the Hopi people, Clifford Balenquab, Governor of Third Mesa’s Bakabi village tells of how "the people had lived in three underground worlds before climbing up to this, the Fourth World. [S]everal different birds sent to the top of the Third World to look for a hole. Crow failed to fly that high and so did the others, even Eagle, but the ordinary, undistinguished little wren [...] flew so high that it found an opening and reported it to the people". Other Pueblo tribes consider rock wrens to be "associated with madness and dangerous magic, and the people used to avoid touching one at any cost." This is, however, more modernly considered a superstition. Another mention of a wren in a different origin myth of the Hopi is as follows:
" A very long time ago there was nothing but water. In the east Hurúing Wuhti 2, the deity of all hard substances, lived in the ocean. [...] Another Hurúing Wuhti lived in the ocean in the west in a similar kiva, but to her ladder was attached a turtle-shell rattle.[...] By and by these two deities caused some dry land to appear in the midst of the water, the waters receding eastward and westward. The Sun passing over this dry land constantly took notice of the fact, that no living being of any kind could be seen anywhere, and mentioned this fact to the two deities. So one time the Hurúing Wuhti of the west sent word through the Sun to the Hurúing Wuhti in the east to come over to her as she wanted to talk over this matter. [...] After consulting each other on this point the two concluded that they would create a little bird; so the deity of the east made a wren of clay, and covered it up with a piece of native cloth (möchápu). Hereupon they sang a song over it, and after a little while the little bird showed signs of life. Uncovering it, a live bird came forth, saying: "Úma hínok pas nui kitâ' náwakna?" (why do you want me so quickly). "Yes," they said, "we want you to fly all over this dry place and see whether you can find anything living." They thought that as the Sun always passed over the middle of the earth, he might have failed to notice any living beings that might exist in the north or the south. So the little Wren, flew al over the earth, but upon its return reported that no living being existed anywhere. Tradition says, however, that by this time Spider Woman (Kóhk'ang Wuhti), lived somewhere in the south-west at the edge of the water, also in a kiva, but this the little bird had failed to notice. " (Sacred-Texts.com)
Sources:
Editors of Wikipedia. "Celts". Wikipedia. Web. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celts#Romanisation. Accessed 4/28/18.
Editors of Wikipedia. "Wren Day". Wikipedia. Web. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wren_Day. Accessed 4/28/18.
Hare, John B.."The Traditions of the Hopi" Sacred Texts. Web. http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/hopi/toth/toth002.htm. Accessed 4/29/18.
Phey, Sianna. "The Wren (Sacred Druid Bird)" Confessions of a Clairsentient. Web. May 23,
Redish, Laura. "Native American Wren Mythology". Native Languages. Web. http://www.native-languages.org/legends-wren.htm. Accessed 4/29/18.
Phey, Sianna. "The Wren (Sacred Druid Bird)" Confessions of a Clairsentient. Web. May 23,
2011. https://siannaphey.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/the-wren-sacred-druidic-bird/. Accessed 4/28/18.
Pinterest. "Wren-boys-ireland" Pintrest. Web. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/465489311457486371/. Accessed 4/28/18.
Redish, Laura. "Native American Wren Mythology". Native Languages. Web. http://www.native-languages.org/legends-wren.htm. Accessed 4/29/18.
Simpson, Elizabeth."How the Wren Became King of the Birds" Little Brown Wren. November 24, 2015. Web. http://littlebrownwren.com/2015/11/24/how-the-wren-became-the-king-of-the-birds/. Accessed 4/28/18.
Stoller, Marianne L. "Birds, Feathers, and Hopi Ceramonialism". Expedition Magazine 33.2. https://www.penn.museum/sites/expedition/birds-feathers-and-hopi-ceremonialism/. Accessed 4/29/18.
No comments:
Post a Comment