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A key part of the Christmas period on the Isle of Man is the White Boys play (Ny Guillyn Baney).

This traditional Manx 'mumming' play, named for their unusual costumes, is not performed to any stable script, but it always includes a few key elements: saints, a fight, a death, a resurrection thanks to 'the Doctor' and a happy ending. This play has been seen on the streets of Manx towns and villages all over the Island during the Christmas period in the 19th Century and beyond.

The play includes a special White Boys' Carol, and it concludes with a sword-dance which finishing with the distinctive holding aloft of the swords interlocked into a hexagon.

The times and locations for the White Boys performances in 2024 are available here.

Videos

Videos

  • The White Boys play (Peel 2023)

  • Manx Dance Lesson: The White Boys Dance

  • The White Boys dance performed by Arbory Primary School

  • The White Boys play (Mollag Ghennal 1999)

  • The White Boys play (Ramsey 2019)

  • The White Boys carol performed by Cliogaree Twoaie

Audio

Images