Culture Vannin reminds us here of Boaldyn ....
"The coming of May is a time for both vigilance and celebration. One of the most important things to do at this time of year is to protect your household with a crosh cuirn - a small cross made out of sticks and wool - which should go up on your doors before the first of May. This will protect you against evil spirits including witches and the mooinjer veggey.. (the Little People) over the coming year."
May Day was the most dangerous day in the Celtic calendar, when witches were thought to have full power. The crosh cuirn played a role, as no evil thing could pass in where the crosh cuirn was.
As usual the Culture Vannin website has a wealth of information about this, and other, Manx traditions.
I have attached a couple of links here to (1) a short video (which features our local town of Peel) and (2) a short extract from Notes on Manx History and /customs which some may find interesting.
Fascinating JayCee. Will there be a "crosh cuirn" on your door? Perhaps facing inwards? Good to see the video from the beach at Peel - keeping old traditions alive.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the video too. It was quite a spectacle.
DeleteIt's safer to stay in bed on May Day.
ReplyDeleteI shall be out and about on my broomstick.
DeleteLove reading about others traditions. I'd give yours a go, may do if I can find any wool. There are few scruffy looking sheep around. Meantime I'd better renew our own traditional method of keeping away those witches, garlic tied up in fishing net
ReplyDeleteWe have a wooden teko teko above the fireplace to protect us. Seems to have worked so far!
DeleteOh that's fascinating - lots of Celtic folklore here in Wales and much in my childhood home of Northumberland. Understanding even a little helps in connecting to a place.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly does that.
DeleteIt sounds similar Ireland with belief in the little people. It's good to see people still believe in things in our ever secular society. A very interesting post. Did I see your luxury yacht in that marina?
ReplyDeleteHow clever of you to spot that Dave! We were having a little G&T on deck at the time.
DeleteWhat an old tradition! But do people really still believe it? Or do they just enjoy the celebration?
ReplyDeleteLovely views of your town!
I think it is just the enjoyment of the old traditions. Not many still believe in it, although I am told that some do!
DeleteThat's so interesting, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteBriony
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I love to learn about all the traditions here as I was born and raised down in West London where things were very different!
DeleteAs my birthday is on Hallowe'en I may request that I join Tasker - not in his bed I hasten to add - but invite him on to my broomstick.
ReplyDeleteYou never know. He may prefer the former option....
DeleteI must make a crosh cuirn - I need some good luck these days. I am very superstitious!
ReplyDeleteIt couldn't hurt to give it a try! I may even do it myself. We have sheep in the field next door and there are always clumps of wool clinging to the wire fence.
DeleteI love hearing these little snippets...
ReplyDeleteI shall try to post more for you Debby.
DeleteWhen I first moved to France in 1972, there was a May Day tradition that has now disappeared. All the youth of the village would get together after midnight and walk around the village making a terrible noise, demanding alcohol and eggs from every house. On our very first experience of this, they seemed to understand that we had no idea what was going on, so instead they sang 'God save the Queen' outside in our courtyard. The following year we knew what was expected of us.
ReplyDeleteThat was very sweet of them.
DeleteHere they pick wild flowers and make a wreath for the door on May Day.
ReplyDeleteIs that to ward off evil spirits or to welcome in the summer?
DeleteOh my, it’s so interesting to read of your folklore and customs, and so interesting to note how closely linked the IoM is to its neighbour Ireland in terms of traditions and language. Actually the cross looks like a nice piece of house decor, I may make one and project my house at the same time!
ReplyDeleteHugs x.
That cross is rather pretty isn't it XXX
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