Carving turnips and Jinny the Witch - Keeping Hop-tu-naa traditions alive on the Isle of Man

Carving turnips, or ‘moots', is a major part of Hop-tu-naa traditions on the Isle of Man, with farmers on the island combining local customs with some of the more modern elements of Halloween such as pumpkins.

Telling stories and singing songs about Jinny the Witch is one of the classic traditions. Children go from door to door singing traditional songs.

Hop-tu-naa

And the way the people on the island came together as a community to celebrate was ‘fantastic', according to local farmer Richard Speight.

He added the community spirit was really impressive on the island with people in tune to their traditional celebrations.

But there were also elements of Halloween traditions from elsewhere blending with the Manx celebrations.

Mr Speight set up the Pumpkin Farm last year. He rented two and a half acres from the farm he worked for, planting 550 pumpkins for a pick your own venture.

At that point, there was no other pick your own pumpkin site on the island.

They sold out in just two and a half hours.

Pumpkins and turnips

This year, they have 3,500 pumpkins, alongside seasonal vegetables.

"My wife came up with the idea," he said.

Mr Speight, who is originally from Yorkshire but moved to the Isle of Man 18 years ago, said the tradition was to carve a turnip, or swede as many in the UK would call them.

"It is incredibly difficult to carve," he said.

In the field, there was a strip of turnips with Manx at either end.

"The reaction has been fantastic," he said,

"Last year, we did one day and it was cataclysmic rain, the worst weather, but we had a constant stream of people. They were having a great time."

He added they were looking to provide something great for families and this year a local primary school had been down to plant some of their own pumpkins and it was really important to him to engage the community.