Island-wide turnip carving competition

Island-wide turnip carving competition

Mon, 08 Oct 2018

What is thought to be the Island’s biggest ever turnip-carving competition has been announced to run across the Hop tu Naa period.

With a set of impressive prizes, the competition has been arranged as a celebration of Manx culture thanks to Year Of Our Island, the Isle of Man Post Office and Culture Vannin.

Hop tu Naa is the traditional Manx celebration of the Celtic New Year at the end of October, a time when we should be most wary of witchcraft and other such evil. As a part of this, the Manx tradition is to carve a turnip (or ‘moot’ as it’s known to many). Thought by some as a tool to ward off evil, these moots are then traditionally taken around the local community with well-known songs about Jinny the Witch and others.

Although children have always been rewarded in the community for their turnips and songs, there is a chance to win something much more substantial this year.

Maxine Cannon, General Manager Stamps & Coins at the Isle of Man Post Office says:

‘Joining in celebrations of Manx customs through the release of the Hop tu Naa stamp in our new stamp collection “Manx Folk Tradition” is an enjoyable part of the work we do to bring our culture and heritage alive to a worldwide audience.’

Competitors stand a chance of winning a Railway Season Pass for two, limited edition hop tu naa T-shirts, 50 stamps, a selection of books & CDs plus further runner up prizes.

James Franklin of Culture Vannin says:

‘Hop tu Naa is a wonderful chance to celebrate who we are and what makes the Isle of Man so wonderfully different and exciting. We are delighted to think that this competition gives people the chance to be recognised and celebrated for the wonderful things they are doing in keeping the Manx traditions alive and well today.’

To enter the competition, pictures of your carved turnip should be submitted through e-mail, Twitter or Facebook. Simply post a picture of your carved turnip online with the hashtag #htnturnipcomp or e-mail the pictures to resources@culturevannin.im The images will be shared online as a celebration of Hop tu Naa. Closing date for the competition will be 5th of November 2018 and winners will be contacted after 10th of November 2018.

Information about Hop tu Naa traditions and suggestions for how to carve a turnip are available from the Culture Vannin website: www.culturevannin.im/hoptunaa