Isle of Man

FOOD & RECIPES

Flitters

The Manx tradition for the morning of Good Friday is the eating of flitters.

These shellfish (known as ‘limpets’ in England) are caught from the rocks and cooked there on the shore. But no iron should be used at all in the fire this day (in recognition of the nails used to put Jesus on the cross), and so the flitters should be cooked in their own shells in the embers of the fire, and eaten using sticks.

You might then want to throw the shells into the sea with the Manx invocation, ‘Gow shoh as bannee orrin’ (‘Take this and bless us’), before performing the Flitter Dance over the embers of the fire. (Source: https://www.culturevannin.im/manxfolklore/flitters-520943/)

Fatherless Pie

Fatherless pie is a traditional pie originating from the Isle of Man. The pie is made with shortcrust pastry, milk, water, butter, potatoes, and seasoning. The potatoes are cut into thin pieces, then assembled on the shortcrust pastry with butter, salt, and pepper.

Once assembled, the milk and water are poured over the filling, and the whole thing is topped with a pie crust before being baked in the oven. This simple pie is traditionally eaten with boiled fish on Good Friday. (Sourc: https://www.tasteatlas.com/most-popular-food-in-isle-of-man)

Queenies

Queenies are medium-sized queen scallops that are sustainably caught on Isle of Man. Their shell can be yellow, orange, brown, red or purple and the opaque/cream coloured meat inside the shell consists of a small, circular, cylindrical muscle to which the roe is attached.

The roe can be left as it is or removed, depending on personal preferences. The taste is delicately sweet and scallops are incredibly versatile in the culinary sense. Use them in salads, baked or seared. When sold, they can be packed dry, frozen, fresh or vacuum packed.

DANCE

Manx Folk Dance — Two Manx Folk Dances plus information and videos for dances: Lesh Bree gys Phurt Chiarn & Tree Cassyn Vannin.

The Flitter Dance — A traditional dance associated with Good Friday.

Do you want to learn to play the Flitter Dance? Here is a video guitar lesson. You will also find a tab available on this site. 

Hop Tu Naa: the oldest continuous tradition. 

CULTURE

Hop tu Naa is the oldest continuously-existing tradition in the Isle of Man, celebrated each year on the 31st October with songs, dancing, turnip lanterns, curious customs and stories about Jinny the Witch. Learn more here.

HISTORICAL SITES

Castle Rushen (Cashtal Rushen) – Castletown (Balley Cashtal) — Castletown (Balley Cashtal), is the ancient capital of the Isle of Man and home to Castle Rushen. One of the best-preserved medieval castles in the world.

Old Grammar School (Yn Chenn Socoill Ghrammeyoys) — Built around 1200AD as the first church for the settlement that grew up around Castle Rushen. Later becoming a school for boys as it is now depicted. It is the oldest roofed structure still standing on the Isle of Man today.

Rushen Abbey (Mannishter Rushen) – Rushen Abbey (Mannishter Rushen) — Rushen Abbey was gifted by King Olaf I for use as a monastery in 1134. The centre tells its story from 1134 to Strawberry Tea dances and days of disco.