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December 26 commemorates the life of , a Christian deacon in Jerusalem who is believed to have been the first Christian . In Ireland the holiday is also called Wren Day, because in the past a would be hunted and killed, then attached to a pole or branch of holly decorated with ribbons. The wren would be taken door-to-door by “wren boys,” young boys who asked for money in exchange for burying the wren. The day’s festivities also included featuring boys and men—also called “straw boys” or “mummers”—dressed up in masks and costumes or in suits made of straw (pictured below), who collected money for charity along the way. Although wrens are no longer part of the festivities, the parades continue in many parts of Ireland.