Welcome to Oie Houney - Hop Tu Naa Manx Winter Fire Festival

Castletown is located in the south of the Isle of Man and was the ancient capital until 1869, home to Castle Rushen, former home to the Kings and Lords of Mann.

To get to Castletown from Douglas, take the A5 from Quarterbridge, and continue past the airport until you reach Castletown. The event will take place in Castletown Square (the centre) using the castle as a dramatic backdrop for the son et lumiere and fire performances.

More details regarding where to stay and parking will be provided in due course

Soddag Valloo (Dumb Cake)

Mix together a cake made of flour and eggs, and also add in things like eggshells and soot etc. After this foul mixture is baked, eat it and then retire to bed without speaking a word (hence the name of the cake). In your dream, you should then see the person who you are destined to marry.

The stolen salt herring

Firstly, go and steal a salt herring from a neighbour’s house. This should be done in the dark, without them knowing. Roast it in its own brine and then eat all of it – even the skin and bones. Do this in silence and don’t drink any water. At midnight, retire to bed backwards and undress in the dark. Your dreams will reveal your future spouse.

A mouth of water and a pinch of salt

Fill your mouth with water, hold a pinch of salt in each hand, and go and secretly go to listen in on your neighbours. The first name mentioned in their conversation will be that of the person you will come to marry.

Nuts in the grate

Put some nuts in the fire and name them with the names of yourself and the people you’re romantically interested in. If a nut cracks or jumps, then you are not destined to be with that person. But if your nut burns peacefully together with another, then you will be married.

Throwing a ball of wool

At midnight, take a ball of wool secretly to the barn. Twist the end of the yarn around your wrist and throw the ball as far as you can into the darkness. Wind it back in and if you find it held in the darkness, call out: ‘Who is holding the thread?’ You will then hear the name of the person you will one day marry.       

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