Hop tu Naa – At Cooil Road in Douglas. Do you know the difference between Halloween and Hop Tu Naa? As the rest of the British Isles prepare to celebrate Halloween on 31 October, many Isle of Man residents will instead celebrate Hop tu Naa. Historically Hop tu Naa has been considered to be the Celtic New Year, marking the end of the summer and the beginning of winter. Hop tu Naa is celebrated with the carving of turnips for lanterns as opposed to the pumpkins that are commonly used for Halloween. Children will then go singing around the houses for hop tu Naa treats, this was once apples, bonnag and herring but as the years have gone by it’s now sweets and pennies. Children visit the houses in fancy dress costumes and with their spooky turnip lantern. A favourite song of choice and one you still regularly hear amongst the children is the famous ‘Ginnie the Witch’ which is a traditional Manx Gaelic song. Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
Tag: Manx Pictures
The White Lady of Ballafreer
The White Lady of Ballafreer A peculiar rock of white quartz which has a human look about it. It is about six to seven feet high and is reputed to bring good fortune to young brides! As you know the Isle of Man is full of history, myths and legends and lots of the stories have been handed down by oral tradition and it is difficult to find any record of them in print. *Update from Bernadette Weyde from her excellent FB Page “As Manx as the Hills” Extract from William Cubbon’s book, Island Heritage: “The White Lady of Ballafreer has been an object of reverence, of wonderment, of admonition and of fear for many centuries. In view of the fact that Ballafreer was reckoned holy ground – the genesis of the name is ‘ the home of the brethren ‘ – it may have had a blessed significance, there was certainly a belief that it shed especial protection over women folk. There is nothing elsewhere in the Island like this white quartz pillar, about six to seven feet high. A girl about to be wed would fill her mouth with the water from Chibbyr Pherick, ‘St. Patrick’s well,’ which flowed only a few yards away. Then she would walk three times around the pillar, and this must be done jesh-wise, or sun-wise, and then swallow the sacred water, saying in Manx: Ayns yn Ennym Yee, as y Vac, as y Spyrryd Noo,’ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.’ Child-bearing women also did this ritual. And, in order to be effective, it must be performed before sunrising.” Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
Original Kirk Conchan Church
This is the original church where St Peter’s Church in Onchan now stands. In fact this little church was better known as Kirk Conchan and the origins of the old church which stood some 50 yards to the north of the present St. Peter’s church date back to the 12th Century. This picture is depicted in a stained glass window in the present St. Peter’s Church in Onchan. Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
Sunset at Jurby Church
A glorious sunset at Jurby Church tonight (12 Oct 15) looking towards the Mountains of Mourne in Ireland. Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
Jurby Church Organ Pipes
This organ came from Finch Hill United Reformed Church in Douglas after a fire there, previously the same organ was from a Methodist Church in Peel which also closed?! Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church
Two images of St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Hill Street in Douglas. The first view is from Bucks Rd with it’s junction of Finch Rd. The second view is a wide angle lens shot taken from within the grounds of this beautiful Church. This fine building, whose foundation stone was laid in 1857, opened on the 4th August 1859 with great ceremony which caused not a little adverse comment from certain elements in the Methodist community. Built to the design of Henry Clutton in French Gothic early 13th Century style. Interior decoration includes work by Peter Paul Pugin and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
Illiam Dhone – The Manx Martyr
Inside Malew Church is this wonderful sculpture of the Manx Martyr William Christian better known as Illiam Dhone which was sculptured by Manxman Bryan Kneale. William Christian, known in Manx as Illiam Dhone (Brown William), was considered a traitor by the Stanleys but a patriot by many of the Manx for his actions in surrendering the Island to the Parliamentary troops during the Civil War. At his trial many members of the House of Keys were unwilling to condemn him and as a result were removed and replaced by others who would find William Christian guilty. By October 1651 the Island was besieged by Parliamentary forces who demanded that the Manx surrender. Stanley had been captured in England. His wife, Countess Charlotte de la Tremouille, tried to negotiate for her husband’s release but when she learnt of her husband’s execution and that the Island’s garrisons were to be surrendered by William Christian (the Island’s Receiver General), she finally admitted defeat. The Manx Rebellion, as it was known, was a bloodless coup with English Parliamentary forces taking over administration of the Island. The Keys, which after 1600 had been a permanent representative body, continued to meet periodically during this time. When King Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660 and the 8th Earl of Stanley returned to the Island, the Earl accused William Christian of treason for the surrendering the Island in 1651 and had him executed by firing squad at Hango Hill, outside Castletown, on January 2nd 1663, despite the issue of a general pardon granted by Charles II. Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
The Raven in Ballaugh
“The Raven” Loving this new Raven tree sculpture that has cropped up in Ballaugh Plantation, whoever has done it deserves a big well done. Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
Old Phone Boxes – A New Life
Maughold Exchange and The Tardis in Peel What a great sense of community spirit where you can exchange books, magazines, leave community notices and someone was even wanting to swap a can of Lynx body deodorant in the Maughold box. Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
Glen Auldyn Church or St Fingan’s
Glen Auldyn Church, now known as St Fingan’s is about 180 years old. This tiny church was originally a Methodist Chapel but changed to a C of E in 1968 after being sold to a Mr Yates of Milntown for £100. He died just after and his wife renovated the small Church at a cost of £3000. Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
Down the Line at Ballajora Halt
Looking down the MER Tram Line at Ballajora Halt in Maughold Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.
Low Tide – Laxey Harbour
Low Tide – Laxey Harbour Feel free to make any comments either on this website by clicking the “Write comment” below or by logging onto my Facebook Page enjoy – Click on the image for a larger view.