Isle of Man Guide

With story telling, crafts, music and dance on offer, there was much fun to be had by all on Bank Holiday Monday during this year’s May Day ‘Laa Boaldyn’ event at the National Folk Museum at Cregneash.

During the day over 400 visitors enjoyed a wide variety of demonstrations including butter making, blacksmithing, dry stone walling, traditional farming methods and ferret keeping. There was also the opportunity to see some traditional Manx cookery as the May Day feast was prepared. The Isle of Man Poetry Society were on hand to read stories and poems by the fire and Manx Dance group Bock Yuan Fannee demonstrated and taught dances.

With the help of demonstrators, visitors were also given the opportunity to make ‘bumbee’ cages from rushes and traditional Crosh Cuirns which many Manx people still hang on their doors to ward off mischievous spirits on May Day eve. Visitors also made mini Loghtan lambs like the ones they could see out in the fields and peg doll Queens of Summer and Winter. They also learnt all about Celtic and Norse May Day traditions and customs associated with the festival.

As always the event was greatly supported by volunteers from the Friends of Manx National Heritage, who turned out to help with activities and guiding visitors around the village.

Katie King, Assistant Curator at Manx National Heritage, said:

“It was excellent to see so many visitors really enjoying themselves at the Laa Boaldyn celebrations, at the same time as learning about some traditional Manx customs. With the help of our musicians and Crosh Cuirns we hope that we have managed to banish the Winter and welcomed in the Summer! We want to say a big thank you to all of our Friends volunteers who helped out at this year’s event. It is with their continued support that our event days are a success and they always strive to ensure our visitors have a great day out”.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the work of the Friends of Man National Heritage can contact Mrs Nicola Pemberton on (01624) 824137 or e-mail at fmnh.njp@manx.net.

The National Folk Museum at Cregneash is part of the award-winning Story of Mann and is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

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