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

Farmers are combining traditional customs with more modern Halloween ideas during celebrations on the island

Alex Black
Deputy Editor
clock • 2 min read
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.

Pumpkins

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.

Turnips

"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.

More on Farm Life

Farmer shares how her regenerative journey made her proud of being a farmer again

Farmer shares how her regenerative journey made her proud of being a farmer again

Verity Megginson tells this year's Soil to Slice Conference how a psychoanalytical approach to agriculture helped her regen transition

Mia Willemsen
clock 26 June 2026 • 3 min read
Jeremy Clarkson's cancer diagnosis spurs 50,000 men to check their own risk

Jeremy Clarkson's cancer diagnosis spurs 50,000 men to check their own risk

Prostate Cancer UK thanks Clarkson's Farm star and says lives will be saved after he 'selflessly' shared his story

Jane Thynne
clock 26 June 2026 • 3 min read
Prostate cancer the focus of RSABI health huts at Royal Highland Show

Prostate cancer the focus of RSABI health huts at Royal Highland Show

The charity was offering visitors to last week's Royal Highland Show blood pressure checks while raising awareness of prostate cancer

clock 26 June 2026 • 2 min read