30th October - -

-- and the month creeps towards its end – but its highlight gets nearer with Halloween almost upon us – except here it isn’t Halloween – but Hop tu Naa – and we don’t carve pumpkins but what the Manx call turnips – (but are most likely more familiar to you all as swedes.)  to make Jack-o-Lanterns. They are smaller than pumpkins of course – but make super lanterns – small enough to carry with a tea light inside, which is what the children do as they parade through the village singing the Hop Tu Naa song and I know there will be special events taking place at Cregneash on Saturday making them. I wish I still had children young enough to take along to join in the fun. It is likely to be very popular so it would be unfair of me to take up places that children should have but it would have been nice to be involved at least once, for such a longstanding Manx tradition. Its linked to the deep Gaelic roots that are still surprisingly close to the surface amongst the Manx born – and even Comeovers like me feel their pull.

Hop-tu-Naa in Manx/English

Shoh shenn oie Houiney; Hop-tu-naa
This is old Hollantide night; Hop-tu-naa
T'an eayst soilshean; Trol-la-laa.
The moon shines bright; Trol-la-laa.
Kellagh ny kiarkyn; Hop-tu-naa.
Cock of the hens; Hop-tu-naa
Shibber ny gauin; Trol-la-laa.
Supper of the heifer; Trol-la-laa.
'Cre'n gauin marr mayd ? Hop-tu-naa.
Which heifer shall we kill? Hop-tu-naa
Yn gauin veg vreac. Trol-la-laa.
The little speckled heifer. Trol-la-laa.
Yn chione kerroo, Hop-tu-naa.
The fore-quarter, Hop-tu-naa
Ver mayd 'sy phot diu; Trol-la-laa.
We'll put in the pot for you. Trol-la-laa.
Yn kerroo veg cooyl, Hop-tu-naa.
The little hind quarter, Hop-tu-naa
Cur dooin, cur dooin. Trol-la-laa.
Give to us, give to us. Trol-la-laa.
Hayst mee yn anvroie, Hop-tu-naa.
I tasted the broth, Hop-tu-naa
Scoald mee my hengey, Trol-la-laa.
I scalded my tongue, Trol-la-laa.
Ro'e mee gys y chibber, Hop-tu-naa.
I ran to the well, Hop-tu-naa
As diu mee my haie, Trol-la-laa.
And drank my fill; Trol-la-laa.
Er my raad thie, Hop-tu-naa.
On my way back, Hop-tu-naa
Veeit mee kayt-vuitsh; Trol-la-laa.
I met a witch cat; Trol-la-laa.
Va yn chayt-scryssey, Hop-tu-naa.
The cat began to grin, Hop-tu-naa
As ren mee roie ersooyl. Trol-la-laa.
And I ran away. Trol-la-laa.
Cre'n raad ren oo roie Hop-tu-naa.
Where did you run to? Hop-tu-naa
Roie mee gys Albin. Trol-la-laa.
I ran to Scotland. Trol-la-laa.
Cred v'ad jannoo ayns shen ? Hop-til-naa
What were they doing there? Hop-til-naa
Fuinney bonnagyn as rostey sthalgyn. Trol-la-laa.
Baking bannocks and roasting collops. Trol-la-laa.
Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa.
Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa
(Loayrt)

My ta shiu goll dy chur red erbee dooin, cur dooin tappee eh,

Ny vees mayd ersooyl liorish soilshey yn cayst

Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa.

(Spoken)

If you are going to give us anything, give it us soon,

Or we'll be away by the light of the moon.

Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa.

For anyone interested – Hop-tu-naa is older than Halloween – see here
please feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by.
Gura mie ayd, J x