Hop-tu-Naa

Hop-tu-Naa is a Celtic festival celebrated in the Isle of Man on 31 October. Predating Halloween, it is the celebration of the original New Year's Eve (Oie Houney). It is thought to be the oldest unbroken tradition in the Isle of Man.[1]

A hop-tu-naa turnip depicting Jinny the Witch.

Etymology

Hop-tu-Naa has been considered to be the beginning of the Celtic New Year, marking the end of the summer and the beginning of winter.[2] It was a time when farmers would celebrate a safely gathered harvest and all preparations completed for the long winter ahead.

The etymology of 'Hop-tu-naa' is uncertain, some sources speculating that it comes from Manx Gaelic Shoh ta'n Oie, meaning "this is the night",[3] though there are a number of origins suggested for the similar Hogmanay, which is the Scottish New Year.

Traditions

Turnip lanterns

For modern Hop-tu-Naa, children dress up and go from house to house with the hope of being given sweets or money, as elsewhere. The children carry carved "turnip" 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 focussing on which way up the turnip is and the nature of the decorations.[1] It is believed that turnip-lanterns do not date earlier than the start of the 19th century due to the vegetable only having been introduced at the end of the previous century.[4] 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. This practice appears to have died out.[2]

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.[5] 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.[6]

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.;[2] or to hold a mouthful of 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.[7]

Many groups of people continue the tradition of singing "around the houses"[1] with turnip lanterns. In addition to this, many Hop-tu-Naa events take place across the Isle of Man each year, most of which today include competitions for turnip and the singing of traditional songs. Manx National Heritage sponsors annual events at various locations.[8] The National Folk Museum at Cregneash hosts an event to teach the tradition Hop-tu-Naa song and help people to carve turnips.[9]

Traditional foods

Traditional food for Hop-tu-Naa includes 'mrastyr'; potatoes, parsnips and fish mashed up with butter. Any left-overs from this evening meal would be left out with crocks of fresh water for the fairies.[10] Toffee would also be made, with just sugar and water, as a communal activity on the evening of hop-tu-naa.[10][11]

Songs

The Hop-tu-Naa Song

Hop-tu-Naa (as collected by A. W. Moore)[12] English translation Hop! Ta’n Oie (as collected by Dr. John Clague)[5] English translation
Shoh shenn oie Houiney; Hop-tu-naa This is old Sauin night; Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Noght oie Houney Hop! ta’n oie. To-night is Hollantide Night.
T'an eayst soilshean; Trol-la-laa. The moon shines bright; Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Mairagh Laa Houney. Hop! ta’n oie. To-morrow is Hollantide Day.
Kellagh ny kiarkyn; Hop-tu-naa. Cock of the hens; Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Kellagh as kiark. Hop! ta’n oie. Cock and hen.
Shibber ny gauin; Trol-la-laa. Supper of the heifer; Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Shibbyr y gounee. Hop! ta’n oie. Supper of the heifer.
'Cre'n gauin marr mayd? Hop-tu-naa. Which heifer shall we kill? Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Cre’n gauin gow mayd? Hop! ta’n oie. What heifer shall we take?
Yn gauin veg vreac. Trol-la-laa. The little speckled heifer. Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Yn gauin beg breck. Hop! ta’n oie. The little spotted heifer.
Yn chione kerroo, Hop-tu-naa. The fore-quarter, Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Kerroo ayns y phot. Hop! ta’n oie. Quarter in the pot.
Ver mayd 'sy phot diu; Trol-la-laa. We'll put in the pot for you. Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Vlayst mee yn vroit. Hop! ta’n oie. I tasted the broth.
Yn kerroo veg cooyl, Hop-tu-naa. The little hind quarter, Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Scold mee my scoarnagh. Hop! ta’n oie. I scalded my throat.
Cur dooin, cur dooin. Trol-la-laa. Give to us, give to us. Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie Roie mee gys y chibbyr.
Hayst mee yn anvroie, Hop-tu-naa. I tasted the broth, Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Diu mee my haie. Hop! ta’n oie. I ran to the well.
Scoald mee my hengey, Trol-la-laa. I scalded my tongue, Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Eisht cheet ny yel. Hop! ta’n oie. I drank my fill.
Ro'e mee gys y chibber, Hop-tu-naa. I ran to the well, Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Veeit mee poul kayt. Hop! ta’n oie. Then coming back.
As diu mee my haie, Trol-la-laa. And drank my fill; Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Ren eh scryssey Hop! ta’n oie. I met a pole-cat.
Er my raad thie, Hop-tu-naa. On my way back, Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Ren mee roie. Hop! ta’n oie. He grinned.
Veeit mee kayt-vuitsh; Trol-la-laa. I met a witch cat; Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Roie mee gys Nalbin. Hop! ta’n oie. I ran to Scotland.
Va yn chayt-scryssey, Hop-tu-naa. The cat began to grin, Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Cre naight ayns shen? Hop! ta’n oie. What news there?
As ren mee roie ersooyl. Trol-la-laa. And I ran away. Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Yn cheeaght va traaue. Hop! ta’n oie. The plough was ploughing.
Cre'n raad ren oo roie Hop-tu-naa. Where did you run to? Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Ny cleain va cleiee. Hop! ta’n oie. The harrows were harrowing.
Roie mee gys Albin. Trol-la-laa. I ran to Scotland. Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Va ben aeg giarey caashey. Hop! ta’n oie. A young woman was cutting cheese.
Cred v'ad jannoo ayns shen? Hop-tu-naa What were they doing there? Hop-tu-naa Hop! ta’n oie. Yn skynn va geyre. Hop! ta’n oie. The knife was sharp.
Fuinney bonnagyn as rostey sthalgyn. Trol-la-laa. Baking bannocks and roasting collops. Trol-la-laa. Hop! ta’n oie. Yiare ee e mair. Hop! ta’n oie. She cut her finger.
Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa. Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa Hop! ta’n ok. Lhap ee ‘sy clooid. Hop! ta’n oie. She wrapped it in a cloth.
Hop! ta’n oie. Ghlass ee eh ‘sy choir. Hop! ta’n oie. She locked it in a chest.
Hop! ta’n oie. Ren eh sthock as stoyr. Hop! ta’n oie. It made stock and store.
Hop! ta’n oie. Three kirree keeir. Hop! ta’n oie. Three brown sheep
Hop! ta’n oie. Va ec Illiam yn Oe. Hop! ta’n oie. Had William the grandson.
(Loayrt) (Spoken) (Loayrt) (Spoken)
My ta shiu goll dy chur red erbee dooin, If you are going to give us anything, My ta shiu cur veg dou, If you give me anything,
Cur dooin tappee eh Give it us soon, Cur eh dou nish Give it me soon,
Ny vees mayd ersooyl Or we'll be away Son ta mish laccal goll thie For I want to go home
liorish soilshey yn cayst by the light of the moon. Lesh soilshey yn eayst. Hop! ta’n oie. With the light of the moon.
Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa Hop! ta’n oie. Hop! ta’n oie.

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 song, which was sung around the Douglas area.[13]

According to Hampton Creer, Jinny's real name was Joney Lowney. She lived in Braddan and was tried at Bishop's Court for witchcraft 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.[14]

The modern song goes as follows :

A Hop-tu-Naa turnip carved with a 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-laa[15]

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 and Edmund Goodwin (1924):[16]

Manx Ballads and Music by A. W. Moore; the earliest book published featuring the Hop-tu-naa song and music
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 and the former house of Parliament

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.[17] This has been taken up by the Manx traditional music youth group, Bree, as a part of their repertoire.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Oral history interview with Sue Woolley conducted by Culture Vannin, October 19, 2016
  2. 1 2 3 Folk Lore of the Isle of Man by A. W. Moore, Isle of Man: Brown & Son, Isle of Man, 1891
  3. ↑ "Hop-tu-naa time", BBC-Ellan Vannin, 4 April 2008
  4. ↑ When did the Manx first carve turnips? by Culture Vannin, available on Vimeo
  5. 1 2 Cooinaghtyn Manninagh: Manx Reminiscences by Dr John Clague, ed. Stephen Miller, Chiollagh Books, 2005 (originally published 1911)
  6. ↑ Manx Calendar Customs by Cyril Ingram Paton, Cribyn: Llanerch Press, 2004 (originally published 1942)
  7. ↑ A Manx Superstition for Hop-tu-naa by Culture Vannin, available on Vimeo
  8. ↑ Kneale, Dave. "Hop-tu-Naa: the iomtoday events guide", IOMToday, 25 October 2014
  9. ↑ Manx National Heritage. "Hop Tu Naa Celebrations at Cregneash", Isle of Man News, 26 October 2010
  10. 1 2 Recipes, Hop-tu-naa on the Manx curriculum website
  11. ↑ November 12th by Hilda Cowin, read by Constance Radcliffe in 1986. Released on SoundCloud by ManxLiterature.com
  12. ↑ Manx Ballads and Music edited by A. W. Moore, Douglas: G & R Johnson, 1896
  13. ↑ ‘How Old is Jinny the Witch?’ ed. Stephen Miller, ‘’Manx Notes’’ 144 (2013)
  14. ↑ Oral history interview with Hampton Creer conducted by Culture Vannin
  15. ↑ Caine, Valerie. "Hop tu Naa - Who Was Jinny the Witch?", North American Manx Association, October 31, 2014
  16. ↑ A Vocabulary of the Anglo-Manx Dialect compiled by A. W. Moore with the co-operation of Sophia Morrison and Edmund Goodwin, Oxford University Press, 1924
  17. ↑ Creepy Folk Come Down by Scanjoon on YouTube
  18. ↑ "Creepy Folk Come Down" - Big Bree Workshop Weekend 2015 Concert 1 released by Culture Vannin on Vimeo

External links

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