Hop-tu-Naa ( ; gv, Oie Houney; ga, Oíche Shamhna ) is a

Celt The Celts (, see pronunciation for different usages) or Celtic peoples () are. "CELTS location: Greater Europe time period: Second millennium B.C.E. to present ancestry: Celtic a collection of Indo-European peoples. "The Celts, an ancient ...

ic festival celebrated in the

Isle of Man ) , anthem = " O Land of Our Birth" , image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg , image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg , mapsize = , map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe , map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green) in Europ ...

on 31 October. It is the celebration of the traditional Celtic festival of

Samhain Samhain ( , , , ; gv, Sauin ) is a Gaelic festival on 1 NovemberÓ hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Myth Legend and Romance: An Encyclopaedia of the Irish Folk Tradition''. Prentice Hall Press, 1991. p. 402. Quote: "The basic Irish division of the year ...

, the start of winter. It is thought to be the oldest unbroken tradition in the Isle of Man.Oral history interview with Sue Woolley
conducted by Culture Vannin, 19 October 2016 Hop-tu-naa turnip with witch and cat

Etymology

The Manx name ''Oie Houney'' corresponds to the Irish ''Oíche Shamhna'', which was pronounced the same (though not in revived Manx). The exact status of ''Oíche Shamhna'' and its role in the Celtic calendar has been a matter of debate. ''Oíche Shamhna'' eventually mutated into

Halloween Halloween or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. It begins the observan ...

in northern England and in Ireland, it was carried to America by Irish immigrants and developed into the modern Halloween. The term ''Hop-tu-naa'' comes from a Manx Gaelic song traditionally sung during the festival which included the nonsense Hop-tu-naa as a refrain; such nonsense rhymes are common theme in Irish and Scottish Gaelic music.

Traditions

On the Isle of Man today, many groups of people continue the tradition of singing Hop-tu-Naa songs "around the houses" (which traditionally referred to waits going around visiting houses, especially those of the wealthy, and soliciting gifts; beggars going "around the houses" are featured in The Deemster) with turnip lanterns. In addition to this, many public Hop-tu-Naa events take place across the Isle of Man each year, most of which today include competitions for artistically carving turnips and the singing of traditional songs. As well as the many events run within local communities, the National Folk Museum at

Cregneash Cregneash or Cregneish ( gv, Creneash) is a small village and tourist destination in the extreme south-west of the Isle of Man, about from Port Erin. Most of the village is now part of a living museum run by Manx National Heritage. There ...

hosts an event to teach the traditional Hop-tu-Naa song and to help people to carve turnips.Manx National Heritage. "Hop Tu Naa Celebrations at Cregneash", ''Isle of Man News'', 26 October 2010
/ref>

Turnip lanterns

At the modern Hop-tu-Naa, children dress up and go from house to house hoping to be given sweets or money, as elsewhere. The children carry carved "

turnip The turnip or white turnip ('' Brassica rapa'' subsp. ''rapa'') is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, fleshy taproot. The word ''turnip'' is a compound of ''turn'' as in turned/rounded on a lathe and ...

" lanterns (which are known as "moots" by the Manx) and sing Hop-tu-Naa songs. There are regional varieties of how turnips should be carved for Hop-tu-Naa, with variations focusing on which way up the turnip is and the nature of the decorations. It is believed that turnip-lanterns do not date earlier than the start of the 19th century, as the vegetable had only been introduced at the end of the previous century. In the past children would bring the stumps of turnips with them and batter the doors of those who refused to give them any money, in an ancient form of

trick or treat Trick-or-treating is a traditional Halloween custom for children and adults in some countries. During the evening of Halloween, on October 31, people in costumes travel from house to house, asking for treats with the phrase "trick or treat". The ...

. This practice appears to have died out.''Folk Lore of the Isle of Man'' by A. W. Moore, Isle of Man: Brown & Son, Isle of Man, 1891
/ref>

Dancing

A hop-tu-naa dance was collected by both

Mona Douglas Mona Douglas (18 September 1898 – 8 October 1987) was a Manx cultural activist, folklorist, poet, novelist and journalist. She is recognised as the main driving force behind the modern revival of Manx culture and is acknowledged as the most ...

and Leighton Stowell. It was believed to have been danced through the streets on Hop-tu-Naa night by couples carrying their turnip-lanterns. It is a simple procession dance for pairs of dancers which involves the Manx reel step and a combination of arches only. This dance is taught in many schools on the Isle of Man during October each year, and it is danced at many of the Hop-tu-Naa events across the island.

Divination

Some of the older customs are similar to those now attached to the January New Year. It was a time for prophesying, weather prediction and fortune-telling.''Cooinaghtyn Manninagh: Manx Reminiscences'' by Dr John Clague, ed. Stephen Miller, Chiollagh Books, 2005 (originally published 1911)
/ref> Last thing at night, the ashes of a fire were smoothed out on the hearth to receive the imprint of a foot. If, next morning, the track pointed towards the door, someone in the house would die, but if the footprint pointed inward, it indicated a birth. A cake was made which was called Soddag Valloo or Dumb Cake, because it was made and eaten in silence. Young women and girls all had a hand in baking it on the red embers of the hearth, first helping to mix the ingredients (flour, eggs, eggshells, soot and salt) and kneading the dough. The cake was divided up and eaten in silence and, still without speaking, all who had eaten it went to bed, walking backwards, expecting and hoping to see their future husband in a dream or vision. The future husband was expected to appear in the dream and offer a drink of water.''Manx Calendar Customs'' by Cyril Ingram Paton, Cribyn: Llanerch Press, 2004 (originally published 1942) Other means of divination was to steal a salt herring from a neighbour, roast it over the fire, eat it in silence and retire to bed; or to hold water in your mouth and a pinch of salt in each hand as you listen to a neighbour's conversation, whereupon the first name mentioned would be that of your future spouse.

Traditional foods

Traditional food for Hop-tu-Naa includes ''mrastyr'': potatoes, parsnips and fish mashed up with butter. Any leftovers from this evening meal would be left out with crocks of fresh water for the

fairies A fairy (also fay, fae, fey, fair folk, or faerie) is a type of mythical being or legendary creature found in the folklore of multiple European cultures (including Celtic, Slavic, Germanic, English, and French folklore), a form of spirit, ...

.Recipes, Hop-tu-naa
on the Manx curriculum website Toffee would also be made, with just sugar and water, as a communal activity on the evening of Hop-tu-Naa.

Songs

The Hop-tu-Naa Song

Modern Hop-tu-Naa songs

Different versions of Hop-tu-naa songs were sung in different areas of the island. "Jinnie the Witch" is a modern

Manx English Manx English (Manks English), or Anglo-Manx (Anglo-Manks; gv, Baarle Ghaelgagh), is the historic dialect of English spoken on the Isle of Man, though today in decline. It has many borrowings from Manx, a Goidelic language, and it differs wi ...

song, which was sung around the Douglas area.‘How Old is Jinny the Witch?’
ed. Stephen Miller, ‘’Manx Notes’’ 144 (2013) According to Hampton Creer, Jinny's real name was Joney Lowney. She lived in

Braddan Braddan ( gv, Braddan) is one of the seventeen parishes of the Isle of Man. It is located on the east of the island (part of the traditional ''South Side'' division) in the sheading of Middle. Administratively, a small part of the historic p ...

and was tried at Bishop's Court for

witchcraft Witchcraft traditionally means the use of magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually women who were believed to have ...

in 1715 and 1716. Her greatest "crime" was stopping the Ballaughton Corn Mill. She was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, fined £3 and made to stand at the four market crosses dressed in sackcloth. The modern song goes as follows : Hop-tu-naa turnip with face

:Hop-tu-Naa :My mother's gone away :And she won't be back until the morning :Jinnie the Witch flew over the house :To fetch the stick to lather the mouse :Hop-tu-Naa :My mother's gone away :And she won't be back until the morning :Hop-tu-Naa, Traa-la-laaCaine, Valerie. "Hop tu Naa - Who Was Jinny the Witch?", North American Manx Association, 31 October 2014
/ref> In the west of the island a longer version was sung, which is more closely related to the Manx version. The following version dates from the 1930s – a similar version is recorded in "A Vocabulary of the Anglo-Manx Dialect" by A. W. Moore,

Sophia Morrison Sophia Morrison (24 May 1859 – 14 January 1917) was a Manx cultural activist, folklore collector and author. Through her own work and role in encouraging and enthusing others, she is considered to be one of the key figures of the Manx cultur ...

and Edmund Goodwin (1924): Manx Ballads and Music by A

:Hop-tu-naa! put in the pot :Hop-tu-naa! put in the pan :Hop-tu-naa! I burnt me throt (throat) :Hop-tu-naa! guess where I ran? :Hop-tu-naa! I ran to the well :Hop-tu-naa! and drank my fill :Hop-tu-naa! and on the way back :Hop-tu-naa! I met a witch cat :Hop-tu-naa! the cat began to grin :Hop-tu-naa! and I began to run :Hop-tu-naa! I ran to Ronague :Hop-tu-naa! guess what I saw there? :Hop-tu-naa! I saw an old woman :Hop-tu-naa! baking bonnags :Hop-tu-naa! roasting sconnags :Hop-tu-naa! I asked her for a bit :Hop-tu-naa! she gave me a bit :as big as me big toe :Hop-tu-naa! she dipped it in milk :Hop-tu-naa! she wrapped it in silk :Hop-tu-naa! Traa la lay! :If you're going to give us anything, give it to us soon :before we run away with the light of the moon! The 1970s southern version from Castletown includes the mention of the Witches Mill, the

Smelt Monument The Smelt Monument is a monument in Castletown, Isle of Man built to commemorate the life of Cornelius Smelt, the first royally appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man, who died in 1832.Journal of The Manx Museum, Wednesday, December 01 ...

and the

Old House of Keys The Old House of Keys ( gv, Shenn-thie y Chiare as Feed) is the former meeting place of the House of Keys, the lower house of Tynwald, the Isle of Man's parliament. It is located across the street from Castle Rushen in Castletown, the former ...

: :This is auld hollantide night, the moon shines clear and bright :Hop-tu-naa, traa-la-laa :Jinnie the witch jumped over the college to fetch the stick to stir the porridge :Hop-tu-naa, traa-la-laa :Castletown square is mighty bare, there isn't a statue that should have been there :Hop-tu-naa, traa-la-laa :The castle is grey, and Parliament gone, the harbour is quiet no smugglers run :Hop-tu-naa, traa-la-laa When lights were turned out and no sweets were given, there was a further chorus: :This is old hollantide night, the moon is shining bright :if you're going to bring us money :You better bring it quick :as we may start to sing again, and your neighbours will think you're thick :Hop-tu-naa, traa-la-laa :Jinnie the witch is over the mill if you don't give us something quick :she will come and get you. New songs for Hop-tu-Naa continue to be created, the most notable of which was written by Scaanjoon in 2015, having been commissioned by Culture Vannin. This has been taken up by the Manx traditional music youth group, Bree, as a part of their repertoire.''"Creepy Folk Come Down" - Big Bree Workshop Weekend 2015 Concert 1''
released by Culture Vannin on

Vimeo Vimeo, Inc. () is an American video hosting, sharing, and services platform provider headquartered in New York City. Vimeo focuses on the delivery of high-definition video across a range of devices. Vimeo's business model is through software as ...

Images of carved hop-tu-naa turnips

File:Hop-tu-naa turnip with witch and cat.jpg File:Turnip carved with hop-tu-naa.jpg File:Hop-tu-naa turnip carving of town.jpg File:Hop-tu-naa turnip with face.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnip and child.jpg File:Hop-tu-naa turnip with witch.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnip.jpg File:Hop-tu-naa turnip decoration - cottage.jpg File:Carved Hop-tu-naa turnip.jpg File:Hop-tu-naa turnip decoration - cat.jpg File:Hop-tu-naa turnip decoration - castle.jpg File:Hop-tu-naa carved on turnip.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnip by Pauline Kneen.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnip by Nick Saunders.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnip by Alfie Hoult.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnips by Jane Oates.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnip carvings by Pauline Kneen.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnips carved by Stephanie Begbie.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnip carving by Sarah Karran Hudson.jpg File:Hop tu Naa turnip lantern by Ellen Kneen 2019.jpg

References

External links

Hoptunaa information and resources
from Culture Vannin
''Hop-tu-naa turnip carving''
a short video explaining how to carve a traditional Peel turnip
Recordings of the songs associated with hop-tu-naa

A performance of the hop-tu-naa dance
{{Halloween Festivals in the Isle of Man Halloween October observances Manx words and phrases Celtic music festivals Autumn events in the Isle of Man Manx culture Divination