When it comes to weird and wonderful festivals, Hop Tu Naa on the Isle of Man certainly takes the cake—or perhaps the turnip. That’s right, forget about your trendy pumpkins, because this Celtic-rooted festival revolves around turnips. Welcome to the OG version of Halloween, where things are a little more rustic, a little more mysterious, and a whole lot more… well, turnip-flavoured.
Hop Tu Naa: The Manx Halloween That Pre-Dates Halloween
You might think you know Halloween, but unless you’ve wielded a turnip lantern to ward off witches, you haven’t experienced Hop Tu Naa. Believed to be the oldest festival in Manx culture, this celebration marks the Celtic New Year and has been scaring off witches and neighbours alike for centuries. Its name comes from the ancient Celtic phrase Shoh ta’n Oie, meaning “This is the night” — the night when winter officially kicks in and the locals do their best to keep the supernatural at bay.
When is Hop Tu Naa 2024?
Circle October 31 on your calendar because that’s when Hop Tu Naa hits full throttle. However, if you’re keen on experiencing the full turnip-flavoured magic, head over to Cregneash on October 27, where the National Folk Museum gets into the spirit early with singing, dancing and lantern carving (yes, from turnips—don’t get fancy ideas about pumpkins).
The Glorious Turnip: The Real Star of Hop Tu Naa
Forget pumpkins. They’re just a shiny, orange distraction. In Hop Tu Naa, the humble turnip, or moot in Manx, is the true hero of the festival. This root vegetable has been sacrificed for centuries, hacked apart and carved into lanterns by children who seem remarkably enthusiastic about using turnips instead of the much softer pumpkins. But hey, if you’re going to carve something, it might as well be a vegetable that smells mildly of wet socks once you’ve hollowed it out, right?
The turnip lantern tradition likely stems from an old Celtic belief that lighting your way through the darkness would keep witches and spirits at bay. Of course, considering how menacing a turnip looks with a face carved into it, you can’t really blame the spirits for running off.
What to Expect: Turnips, Witches, and Manx Songs
Hop Tu Naa is celebrated with all the spooky staples you’d expect — songs, tales of witches and children knocking on doors asking for treats. But here, instead of pumpkins, you’ll find people wielding grumpy-faced turnips and singing old Manx songs. One of the classics is the famous Jinny the Witch song, which tells the tale of Joney Loney, a local accused of cursing a neighbour’s cow (or a mill—details, details) back in 1716. Naturally, it didn’t end well for Joney, but hey, if your name is still being sung hundreds of years later, that’s something, right?
If you’re in Cregneash on October 27, you can join in the festivities with turnip carving workshops, learn the proper way to sing the Hop Tu Naa song, and probably leave with a newfound appreciation for how much more fun it is to hollow out a pumpkin. Oh, and there’s also a traditional Manx dance that’s taught in schools — so if you ever wanted to learn to dance while holding a turnip, this is your chance.
Why Attend Hop Tu Naa 2024? The Isle of Man’s Best-Kept Secret
Still on the fence? Let me spell it out for you: Hop Tu Naa is a must-attend because where else in the world will you find a festival so gloriously bizarre? You’ll be part of a tradition that’s been going strong since the Celtic times, all while wielding a grinning turnip and fending off witches. It’s the Isle of Man’s slightly eccentric, definitely unique twist on Halloween, and trust me, it’s not just a carbon copy of the American version.
Plus, who doesn’t want to spend their October in the Isle of Man, wrapped up in mystery, lore, and the scent of freshly carved vegetables? You’ll swap out tacky store-bought costumes for hand-whittled lanterns and ancient songs. And if you’re lucky, someone might even give you a bonnag (a traditional Manx bread) for your efforts, or if you’re very unlucky, a raw herring — yes, that’s a thing too.
Apart from Turnips, What Else to Do on the Isle of Man
If you’re thinking, “Sure, Hop Tu Naa sounds fun, but what else can I do on a rock in the Irish Sea?” — don’t worry, there’s plenty. You can check out Snaefell Mountain, visit the historic Peel Castle, or take a steam train around the island (and pretend you’re living in an Agatha Christie novel). And if you’re into motorsports, the Isle of Man is famous for the TT races — though admittedly, there’s significantly less turnip involvement there.
So this October, ditch the plastic pumpkins and polyester costumes and head to the Isle of Man for some good old-fashioned turnip fun. Because let’s be honest—any festival that makes turnips the star of the show is worth seeing at least once in your life. Hop Tu Naa 2024 is calling, and it’s saying, “This is the night… to carve a turnip!”
Thanks to Visit Isle of Man for providing us with the photos – and turnips.
