Hop-tu-Naa

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Hop-tu-Naa is a Celtic festival celebrated in the Isle of Man on 31 October. It is unrelated to Halloween and is the celebration of the original New Year's Eve ("Oie Houney"). The term is Manx Gaelic in origin, deriving from "Shogh ta’n Oie", meaning "this is the night". Hogmanay, which is the Scottish New Year, comes from the same root.

For Hop-tu-Naa children dress up as scary beings and go from house to house with the hope of being given sweets or money, as elsewhere. However the children carry turnips rather than pumpkins and sing an Anglicized version of Jinnie the Witch. The changeover from turnips to pumpkins has also happened in Scotland, where the similar practice is called "guising".

In older times children would have also brought the stumps of turnips with them and batter the doors of those who refused to give them any money! (An ancient form of trick or treat, however this practice appears to have died out.)

Hop-tu-Naa in Manx	Hop-tu-Naa in English
SHOH shenn oie Houiney; Hop-tu-naa	THIS is old Hollantide night; Hop-tu-naa
T'an eayst soilshean; Trol-la-laa.	The moon shines bright; Trol-la-laa.
Kellagh ny kiarkyn; Hop-tu-naa.	Cock of the hens; Hop-tu-naa
Shibber ny gauin; Trol-la-laa.	Supper of the heifer; Trol-la-laa.
'Cre'n gauin marr mayd ? Hop-tu-naa.	Which heifer shall we kill? Hop-tu-naa
Yn gauin veg vreac. Trol-la-laa.	The little speckled heifer. Trol-la-laa.
Yn chione kerroo, Hop-tu-naa.	The fore-quarter, Hop-tu-naa
Ver mayd 'sy phot diu; Trol-la-laa.	We'll put in the pot for you. Trol-la-laa.
Yn kerroo veg cooyl, Hop-tu-naa.	The little hind quarter, Hop-tu-naa
Cur dooin, cur dooin. Trol-la-laa.	Give to us, give to us. Trol-la-laa.
Hayst mee yn anvroie, Hop-tu-naa.	I tasted the broth, Hop-tu-naa
Scoald mee my hengey, Trol-la-laa.	I scalded my tongue, Trol-la-laa.
Ro'e mee gys y chibber, Hop-tu-naa.	I ran to the well, Hop-tu-naa
As diu mee my haie, Trol-la-laa.	And drank my fill; Trol-la-laa.
Er my raad thie, Hop-tu-naa.	On my way back, Hop-tu-naa
Veeit mee kayt-vuitsh; Trol-la-laa.	I met a witch cat; Trol-la-laa.
Va yn chayt-scryssey, Hop-tu-naa.	The cat began to grin, Hop-tu-naa
As ren mee roie ersooyl. Trol-la-laa.	And I ran away. Trol-la-laa.
Cre'n raad ren oo roie Hop-tu-naa.	Where did you run to? Hop-tu-naa
Roie mee gys Albin. Trol-la-laa.	I ran to Scotland. Trol-la-laa.
Cred v'ad jannoo ayns shen ? Hop-til-naa	What were they doing there? Hop-til-naa
Fuinney bonnagyn as rostey sthalgyn. Trol-la-laa.	Baking bannocks and roasting collops. Trol-la-laa.
Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa.	Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa

(LOAYRT/SPOKEN)

MY ta shiu goll dy chur red erbee dooin, cur dooin tappee eh,

Ny vees mayd ersooyl liorish soilshey yn cayst

Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa.

(If you are going to give us anything, give it us soon,

Or we'll be away by the light of the moon.

Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa.)

[edit] Jinnie the Witch

(Also spelt Ginnie the Witch)

Jinnie the Witch is a modern Manx English version of the above ballad:

Hop-tu-Naa
My mother's gone away
And she wont be back until the morning

Jinnie the Witch flew over the house
To fetch the stick to lather the mouse

Hop-tu-Naa
My mother's gone away
And she wont be back until the morning

Hop-tu-Naa, Traa-la-laa

Please note that this is only one version of many; it is probably the most popular, however the song changes from village to village and from family to family. It is still widely used and many people will refuse to give sweets or money to children who do not sing the song. "Jinnie" is also the Manx Gaelic for stinging nettle.

In the West of the Island a longer version is sung:

Hop-tu-naa put in a pot Hop-tu-naa I scolded me throt Hop-tu-naa I met an old woman Hop-tu-naa She was baking bonnags Hop-tu-naa I asked for a bit Hop-tu-naa she gave me a bit as big as me big toe Hop-tu-naa she dipped it in milk Hop-tu-naa she wrapped it in silk Hop-tu-naa, Traa la lay

Jinnie the witch is in you house Give me a penny and I'll chase her out Hop-tu-naa, Traa la lay