To the ‘Old people of Mann’, Fairies (little people), Bugganes, Phynnodderrees and Glashtyns (to name a few) were all creatures of both wonder and dread. The daily lives of the old people would be ruled by the powers that these beings possessed.
A good example of this would be that of the TRAMMAN – elder tree - sambucus nigra this tree would not be harmed in any way as the fairies lived underground below its gnarled trunk, this was evident from the Fairy Lug (a fungus) – Auricularia auricula that could be found growing on its trunk and branches. This meant that the Fairies were in residence, their ears had been left above ground to hear all the ‘skeet’ (the going’s on above ground).
The Blaa ny Ferrishyn – (fairies flower) – Red and white campion – Silene dioica was the fairies own flower and would never be picked or brought into the home. Maraine ny Ferrish – (fairy thimble) – Harebell – Campanula giesekiana was another wonderful flower with fairy connections. Further more the plant Greater stitchwort – Lhieen ny Ferrishyn – Stellaria holostea (Fairies net) is another that is associated with the Fairies or more correctly the Little people – Yn Vooinjer Veggey. The word Fairy was not used years ago it they would always be called the Little people!
Lus y Choilg – Slender St John’s wort – Hypericum perforatum had mighty powers, a sprig collected on Oie Voaldyn – May Eve, if stramped upon, would produce a fairy horse that could be ridden until dawn.
The Vervine, Yn lus (the Herb) – Vervain – Verbena officinalis was a plant that has wonderful properties and kept evil spirits at bay, along with Cuirn – Mountain Ash – Sorbus aucuparia these would be grown in your garden for good luck and the powers of protection that they possessed.
Another nice story concerns the Drine drughaig - Dog Rose – Rosa canina when the petals have dropped from the flower, on the five sepals that are left the edges are some have little ‘tassles’, known in Manks as Friggan ( a beard, hook or prickle). (These are the little bits of skin that appear beside your finger nails that catch everything and bleed if you pull them off!) The story concerning these is this, two of the five sepals have friggans on either side, two of the sepals have no friggans and the fifth one has a friggan on only one side. The story relates as follows:- “Mrs Rose had five sons and they all had beards (indicate one that has friggans). One morning when they got up two of the sons decided to shave their beards off (indicate the beardless sepal), two decided to retain theirs. The fifth son was undecided so only shaved half his beard. What I find most incredible is that the sepals with only half a beard can be either, right or left sided with friggans!!
The stories of the Little people were ingrained in society and an old gentleman named George Quayle, who wrote a wonderful book “Legends of a life time”, on the old ways and who died in the 1990’s when in his 90’s himself, had a very good theory regarding this. He believed that a fungus that is found in Oats, which is an hallucinogenic, was the cause. Oats was a very important cereal and the old people would use every last scrap, hence the possibility of them being affected by the fungus.
There is another plant that has an interesting story attached to its name, the plant is the Sundew (Sundew is insectivorous) – Lus ny graih (herb of love) – Drosera rotundifolia it is called the herb of love because the old people used to tell young girls that if they wanted to ‘trap a husband’ that they should make a love potion of the Sundew and give it to their prospective husband. The thought was that if the plant could catch a fly then potion could trap them a husband!! Another insectivorous plant is the Butterwort – Lus y steep – Pinguicular vulgaris this plants name tells us that it was used in the production of Rennet (curds and whey) – Pinjane. Another plant shares the same Manks name is Lesser spearwort – Ranunculus flammula it too was used to make Rennet.
The old people would never have Daffodils – Narcissus pseudonarcissus – Lus y ghuiy feie (herb of the wild geese) in the house. There is a variety of Daffodil called ‘Van sion’ which is double variety which was very common around the Island and was thought of as the ‘Manks daffodil’. The reason for the Daffodil being thought of as unlucky, stems from the common custom of bringing the goose into the kitchen to hatch its eggs. The goose was an extremely important food source, the thought was if Daffodils were brought into the kitchen the goose would see the yellow flowers and believe they were goslings and that its eggs were hatched and would stop hatching.
Another custom that still is going strong is to collect the flower known in Mann as King cups – Bullught or Blughtyn – Caltha palustris. This may be better known as Marsh marigold. It is a plant that has numerous different names all around Britain, these include May blobs, May bubbles, Golden orbs and Shakspeare called it Marybuds. The custom was to collect King cups (or any yellow flower) on May day eve and have them in the house for May day for good luck.
The Hawthorn – Drine y skeag – Crataegus monogyna was also lucky, I believe it is revered in Ireland as the Elder is on the Isle of Mann. The old farm houses would always have a ‘Drine bush’ by the back door for both its luck and its usefulness. The bush would be kept clipped flat, like a table. The continuous trimming would make it grow very thick and hard on top. This ‘table’ was used for putting the milking buckets upside down on so that the air could circulate easily and keep the bucket ‘sweet’. Dishcloths and towels would also be draped on the ‘Drine’ table for the same purpose. The flowers of Hawthorn would never be brought into the house as Hawthorn was used as the ‘Crown of Thorns’ at the Crucifixion. Because of this relationship the Hawthorn would help to protect the household.
The following superstition is not flower related but was very real in the old days. There were many people considered to be witches or have ‘Evil’ powers. They were usually women and these people could ‘put the evil eye on you’. One counter measure was to get dust from where they had walked or dust from where three Parish boundaries met.
Hop tu naa was the Manks name for what is called Halloween in other places. Children would hollow out Turnips – moots and go around the houses singing a special song that has a number of versions throughout the Island. The ‘First foot’ or Quaaltagh was another important custom at New year that is still thought of as very important.
These are just a few of the many plants and superstitions that ruled and sustained a poor people who worked long hours, followed ancient laws and who lived simple lives.
A good example of this would be that of the TRAMMAN – elder tree - sambucus nigra this tree would not be harmed in any way as the fairies lived underground below its gnarled trunk, this was evident from the Fairy Lug (a fungus) – Auricularia auricula that could be found growing on its trunk and branches. This meant that the Fairies were in residence, their ears had been left above ground to hear all the ‘skeet’ (the going’s on above ground).
The Blaa ny Ferrishyn – (fairies flower) – Red and white campion – Silene dioica was the fairies own flower and would never be picked or brought into the home. Maraine ny Ferrish – (fairy thimble) – Harebell – Campanula giesekiana was another wonderful flower with fairy connections. Further more the plant Greater stitchwort – Lhieen ny Ferrishyn – Stellaria holostea (Fairies net) is another that is associated with the Fairies or more correctly the Little people – Yn Vooinjer Veggey. The word Fairy was not used years ago it they would always be called the Little people!
Lus y Choilg – Slender St John’s wort – Hypericum perforatum had mighty powers, a sprig collected on Oie Voaldyn – May Eve, if stramped upon, would produce a fairy horse that could be ridden until dawn.
The Vervine, Yn lus (the Herb) – Vervain – Verbena officinalis was a plant that has wonderful properties and kept evil spirits at bay, along with Cuirn – Mountain Ash – Sorbus aucuparia these would be grown in your garden for good luck and the powers of protection that they possessed.
Another nice story concerns the Drine drughaig - Dog Rose – Rosa canina when the petals have dropped from the flower, on the five sepals that are left the edges are some have little ‘tassles’, known in Manks as Friggan ( a beard, hook or prickle). (These are the little bits of skin that appear beside your finger nails that catch everything and bleed if you pull them off!) The story concerning these is this, two of the five sepals have friggans on either side, two of the sepals have no friggans and the fifth one has a friggan on only one side. The story relates as follows:- “Mrs Rose had five sons and they all had beards (indicate one that has friggans). One morning when they got up two of the sons decided to shave their beards off (indicate the beardless sepal), two decided to retain theirs. The fifth son was undecided so only shaved half his beard. What I find most incredible is that the sepals with only half a beard can be either, right or left sided with friggans!!
The stories of the Little people were ingrained in society and an old gentleman named George Quayle, who wrote a wonderful book “Legends of a life time”, on the old ways and who died in the 1990’s when in his 90’s himself, had a very good theory regarding this. He believed that a fungus that is found in Oats, which is an hallucinogenic, was the cause. Oats was a very important cereal and the old people would use every last scrap, hence the possibility of them being affected by the fungus.
There is another plant that has an interesting story attached to its name, the plant is the Sundew (Sundew is insectivorous) – Lus ny graih (herb of love) – Drosera rotundifolia it is called the herb of love because the old people used to tell young girls that if they wanted to ‘trap a husband’ that they should make a love potion of the Sundew and give it to their prospective husband. The thought was that if the plant could catch a fly then potion could trap them a husband!! Another insectivorous plant is the Butterwort – Lus y steep – Pinguicular vulgaris this plants name tells us that it was used in the production of Rennet (curds and whey) – Pinjane. Another plant shares the same Manks name is Lesser spearwort – Ranunculus flammula it too was used to make Rennet.
The old people would never have Daffodils – Narcissus pseudonarcissus – Lus y ghuiy feie (herb of the wild geese) in the house. There is a variety of Daffodil called ‘Van sion’ which is double variety which was very common around the Island and was thought of as the ‘Manks daffodil’. The reason for the Daffodil being thought of as unlucky, stems from the common custom of bringing the goose into the kitchen to hatch its eggs. The goose was an extremely important food source, the thought was if Daffodils were brought into the kitchen the goose would see the yellow flowers and believe they were goslings and that its eggs were hatched and would stop hatching.
Another custom that still is going strong is to collect the flower known in Mann as King cups – Bullught or Blughtyn – Caltha palustris. This may be better known as Marsh marigold. It is a plant that has numerous different names all around Britain, these include May blobs, May bubbles, Golden orbs and Shakspeare called it Marybuds. The custom was to collect King cups (or any yellow flower) on May day eve and have them in the house for May day for good luck.
The Hawthorn – Drine y skeag – Crataegus monogyna was also lucky, I believe it is revered in Ireland as the Elder is on the Isle of Mann. The old farm houses would always have a ‘Drine bush’ by the back door for both its luck and its usefulness. The bush would be kept clipped flat, like a table. The continuous trimming would make it grow very thick and hard on top. This ‘table’ was used for putting the milking buckets upside down on so that the air could circulate easily and keep the bucket ‘sweet’. Dishcloths and towels would also be draped on the ‘Drine’ table for the same purpose. The flowers of Hawthorn would never be brought into the house as Hawthorn was used as the ‘Crown of Thorns’ at the Crucifixion. Because of this relationship the Hawthorn would help to protect the household.
The following superstition is not flower related but was very real in the old days. There were many people considered to be witches or have ‘Evil’ powers. They were usually women and these people could ‘put the evil eye on you’. One counter measure was to get dust from where they had walked or dust from where three Parish boundaries met.
Hop tu naa was the Manks name for what is called Halloween in other places. Children would hollow out Turnips – moots and go around the houses singing a special song that has a number of versions throughout the Island. The ‘First foot’ or Quaaltagh was another important custom at New year that is still thought of as very important.
These are just a few of the many plants and superstitions that ruled and sustained a poor people who worked long hours, followed ancient laws and who lived simple lives.