How Hop Tu Naa decorations are helping to create family traditions

Ghosts, witches and perhaps even a few K-Pop Demon Hunters will be spotted going house to house on Saturday, singing about Jinny the Witch and collecting treats.

Children across the Isle of Man will be celebrating Hop Tu Naa, the island's oldest unbroken tradition. Marked on 31 October, the Celtic festival signals the transition from summer to winter and is often compared with Halloween.

However, it is considered the Celtic New Year, celebrating the safe gathering of the harvest and marking the point at which people prepared for the colder months ahead.

For the Pulrose family, decorating their home for Hop Tu Naa is a tradition that stretches back to grandfather Anthony Dooley's childhood.

"I grew up in Ireland, where Halloween is a big thing," he said.

"Before my family moved to the Isle of Man when I was 10, we decorated every year. Over the years I've carried on that tradition and passed it on to my children and grandchildren."

Anthony and his wife Sarah previously lived in Spring Valley, Douglas, where they decorated their home each year alongside neighbours.

"It's all for our grandchildren," Anthony said. "We moved to Pulrose three years ago and now live next to three of them, so seeing their faces light up when we put up the decorations makes it all worthwhile."

He said the same display is used each year at a local primary school's annual disco before being brought home.

"Once I get it back, I put it up outside for the kids and the community to enjoy," he said.

Sarah added: "It's brilliant. It brightens up the dark autumn nights."

Anthony said it took about five hours to put the display together with the help of one of his granddaughters.

He said working on the display together was one of the highlights of the occasion.

"It's great for the kids and for spending time with them," he said.

"My granddaughter helps put out the lights and, hopefully, 50 years from now she'll be doing the same with her own grandchildren."

Anthony said he had also enjoyed seeing more homes in the area embracing the festival.

"Back in Ireland nearly every house is decorated at this time of year, and it's lovely to see people here getting into the spirit too."

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