Мэн аралындағы Hop tu Naa мерекесі

Celtic festival celebrated in the Isle of Man

Hop tu Naa (,/h//ɒ//p// //t//uː// /'/n//eɪ/ HOP too NAY; ; Oíche Shamhna ) is a Celtic festival celebrated in the Isle of Man on 31 October. It is the celebration of the traditional Gaelic festival of Samhain, the start of winter. It is thought to be the oldest unbroken tradition in the Isle of Man.

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 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.

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.

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" 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. 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.

A hop tu naa dance was collected by both Mona Douglas 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.

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. Toffee would also be made, with just sugar and water, as a communal activity on the evening of Hop tu Naa.