Posts From Bernadette Weyde
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May 1 – Laa Boaldyn
In the Old Style calendar this day was celebrated on May 12 and was called Shenn Laa Boaldyn, Old May Day. Boaldyn, known as ‘Bealtaine‘ in Ireland and ‘Bealltainn‘ in Scottish Gaelic, marks the beginning of summer and is one
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April 30 – Oie Voaldyn – May Day Eve
The customs on this eve and on May-Day were, until quite recently, commonly observed on the Old Style dates of May 11 and May 12. ►TRAIN in 1845… “Many of them (people) remained on the hills till sunrise, endeavouring to
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The Buggane of The Smelt
There was once a Buggane living at The Smelt that was a terrible annoyance. He’d make himself as big as a house or small as a black beetle. One time he’d be like a tall man with his head under
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St Bridget’s Day and the old Caillagh
On the Isle of Man every ditch had to be full of rain or snow on St Bridget’s Day so that the old Caillagh, or hag, could not gather brasnags or faggots (sticks) for firing. If she could lay in
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Strange Red Lights
In the 1920s a number of strange reddish lights were reported, two and sometimes three at once, moving about a man’s garden adjoining the Claddagh, “as big as the rear lamp of a trap.” They caused a good deal of
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The Cholera Epidemic 1832-33
The incubation period of cholera can be as short as a few hours, the time it takes for the ingested vibrio cholera to get to its natural habitat, the human intestine, but it can also be as long as a
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John Henry Teare
Mention the word ‘cycling’ and ‘Isle of Man’, and many people will automatically think of Mark Cavendish and Peter Kennaugh, two modern day sportsmen who have achieved amazing success to date. But there is someone else who deserves recognition in
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Wells on the Isle of Man
Every parish in the Isle of Man had its wells, wells that in the distant past played an important part in the lives of the community. Many of them were sacred and many of them are credited with curative properties.
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Some Manx Surname Meanings
Barron = a stripling Bell = dweller at the (shop) sign of the bell; Son of the Servant of the bell ( = bellringer?) Boyd = victorious; yellow (or fair headed); a yokel Boyde = a yokel Brew = farmer;
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Life in Ballaugh in the 1840s
By Ellie Shimmin. February 28th, 1915. Today is my birthday, seventy-four years. I was born in the year 1841 in the parish of Ballaugh. I was baptized and catechised for confirmation by our beloved Rector, Thomas Howard, and was confirmed
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