President’s Greeting

Now is the time to call Judy Bonnett and tell her that you are attending the fall meeting on October 23, 2005. Joan Gill, member of Minnesota Manx and our Wisconsin Manx Society, will speak on Manx Women. We’re so pleased that she will be here!

What a wonderful summer! Our trip to the Isle of Man was everything we could ask---well we could have done without the rain on Tynwald Day. The Homecoming activities were not only well planned, but also gave us an opportunity to explore on our own. I had my first micro fiche and micro film experiences at the Manx Museum that were quite fruitful. I saw gorgeous views and need to get into shape to see the others on my next visit. I felt so proud of the IOM as I tried to show my family everything in just a few days. I encourage anyone and everyone to make the trip happen.

We are so lucky in Wisconsin to have Celtic organizations that are active. The Celtic Women’s Conference will be held, October 20-22.( See more info inside) Irishfest in Miwaukee celebrated their 25th anniversay. Mineral Point has changed it’s format from just the Cornish emphasis to include all things Celtic. We have an opportunity to share some of our common grounds at these activities. I will be carrying the Manx flag at the Celtic Women’s Conference opening ceremony on Thursday October 20. - Georgene Voutilla

Fall Meeting-October 23

Joan Gill, WMS and Minnesota Manx Society member, is presenting a program on Manx women.

Make your reservations for the Spring Meeting by calling Judith Bonnett at 608-884-8905. The cost is $10.00 per person, payable at the meeting. TJ’s Catering from Sauk City continues to provide us an excellent soup and sandwich lunch buffet.

Please call by October 17^th. When leaving a message, include the number of reservations, your name, the spelling of your name, and your phone number.

The Folklore of the Isle of Man - A. W. Moore [1891]

(Excerpt from Chapter 3, Fairies & Familiar Spirits: http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/fim/fim06.htm )

The belief in Fairies or Elves was formerly very prevalent in the Isle of Man, and cannot be said to have altogether died out even at the present day. The Manx conception of a Fairy seems to be very much the same as that in other Celtic lands, with, perhaps, a tinge of the somewhat more sombre Scandinavian superstition. They are supposed to be like human beings in form and feature, though very much smaller and more delicately constructed. At a distance they seem to be handsome, but on closer inspection they are often found to be decrepit and withered. They are usually represented as being clad in blue or green, with red peaked caps. They live in green hill sides, more especially affecting the ancient tumuli. Any one straying near these on a fine summer's evening would probably hear delightful music; but he must take care, especially if he is a musician, not to linger lest he should be entrapped. Sometimes, too, they may be seen playing like children, or dancing, the rings seen on the grass being caused by this; at other times feasting. They hunt, being for the most part very furious riders. They are partly human and partly spiritual in their nature, and are visible to men only when they choose. Some of them are benevolent, curing men of diseases and delivering them from misfortune. Others are malevolent, stealing children, even abducting grown people, and bringing misfortune. The flint arrow heads which are occasionally picked up, are the weapons with which the Fairies avenge themselves upon human beings who had wronged them. Their impact is not felt, and does not break the skin, but a blue mark is found on the body of the victim after death.

The good Fairies are, fortunately, more powerful than the bad, and will enable those who are considerate in their behaviour to them to prevail over the latter. It is, therefore, very desirable to keep on good terms with them, and to propitiate them by taking care not to wound their feelings; with this view, they are called "the little people," or "the good people," the word Fairy being never mentioned, as they are supposed not to like it. Indeed, the Manx word Ferrish is merely a recent corruption of the English word, there being no such word in the Manx language 150 years ago. It was an old custom to keep a fire burning in the house during the night, so that the Fairies might come in and enjoy it. If any one was rash enough not to do this, or to abuse them in any way, he would be sure to suffer for it. It was also customary to leave some bread out for the Fairies, and to fill the water crocks with clean water for them before going to bed. This water was never used for any other purpose, but was thrown out in the morning.

The Manx women, formerly, would not spin on Saturday evenings, as this was deemed displeasing to the Mooinjer-Veggey (Fairies), and at every baking and churning a small bit of dough and butter was stuck on the wall for their consumption. Besides keeping on good terms with the benevolent Fairies, there are various other methods of defeating the machinations of the malevolent ones. Among these are the incantations and herbs got from men and women who had acquired the reputation of being Fairy Doctors, or Charmers, though their nostrums were usually applied to the cure of cattle. One of the most renowned of these practitioners, Teare of Ballawhane, told Train, in 1833, that the malevolence of the Fairies had caused the seed potatoes to become tainted in the ground, and, in order to convince him that this was the case, he said that all the potatoes which he had taken under his protection had vegetated vigorously.

But there are methods for protecting human beings and animals against Fairies, which are so well known that there is no need to apply to a Charmer before applying them. Thus, salt is very efficacious, and so is iron, as will be seen from stories which follow. It was necessary to take great care of children, especially before baptism, as one of the commonest actions of the malevolent Fairies is to steal children. If a child were taken away, a decrepit and emaciated Fairy would be found in its place, and the prettier the child, the greater the risk of this. One way of preventing this catastrophe was to lay an iron poker, or other iron implement, on the child when left alone, another was to tie a red thread round the child's neck, and when taking her child to be christened, a woman would take a piece of bread and cheese with her, which she gave to the first person she met for the same purpose. Another protective measure, both for human beings and animals, is to have the cuirn, or mountain ash, in the form of a cross, made without a knife, put over the threshold of their dwellings. Flowers growing in a hedge, especially if yellow, are also useful in this respect, and ploughmen were wont to throw chamber lee over their ploughs to protect them. On Midsummer Eve, when their power is at its height, flowers and herbs are the only barriers to their incursions, and these are regularly spread at the doors of the houses to protect the inmates. They are also supposed to be always abroad during the harvest moon; and many stories are related of their excursions through the Island, and particularly errata.htmof their merry-makings in Glentrammon. The interior of Fairy Hill, in Rushen, is supposed to be the palace of the Fairy King, and many a tale was told of the midnight revels of the fairy court of Mona.

Laxey Picnic, 2005

On June 12, 2005, Wisconsin Manx and Cornish people celebrated the 150 anniversary of the founding of the Little Manx Church on the Hill. The commemoration began at the Sunday morning church service of the Linden United Methodist Church in Linden, Wisconsin.

Mae Reese, Wisconsin Manx Society Historian, presented a history of the Laxey Church to the congregation and visitors.

In the tradition of the old Laxey Picnics, the church service was followed by a bountiful potluck which included Cornish pasties. The attendees then drove to the nearby Laxey Cemetery where they visited, reminisced, and honored their Manx and Cornish ancestors.

Andy Willett, bagpiper and son of Wisconsin Manx Society members Dann and Jean, added a special touch to the days events with his piping. Andy played for the attendees at the Church, the potluck, and the cemetery. A memoriam for Jean Robertson, former Wisconsin Manx Society member, was used to provide his services.

The Conference of Celtic Women

There will be a conference for Celtic women in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on October 20-22,2005. It will be held at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center (ICC) on 2133 West Wisconsin Avenue. They include as presenters natives from the Celtic nations who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields. Also presenting programs are Americans with Celtic heritage. Joan Gill has presented a program in the past. The Manx this year are represented by Carol McLernon who will play organ.

This conference opens Thursday evening and closes Saturday evening. You will be able to attend our Madison meeting on Sunday October 23, with no problem. All the meetings and meals are held in the ICC.

There are two hotels one-half block away; parking is abundant and mostly free. The speakers, musicians, and presenters stay on site for the whole time to give you the opportunity to talk and eat with them. They expect registrants from over 25 states. There will be vendors on site to do some browsing.

I have further information on specifics and there is a web site at www.ConferenceOfCelticWomen.org

Cowree

A recipe filched from the Li'l People

After the oats were ground at the mill, the husks would also be returned and were used to make cowree - the traditional dish left by the hearthh at night for the fairies, or li'l people, as the Manx folk call them. A thick gruel, cowree was also the food taken up the mountain for sustenance on a turf cutting day.

Steep the husks of a bushel of oats with a handful or two of fine oatmeal for nine days, in sufficient water to cover. When it has fermented and become bitter, run the water through a sieve to remove the husks. Now fill the biggest pot you have in the house with the liquid. Stir with a pot-stick all the time it is on the fire until it becomes thick and solid. When it is quite cold, boil it with milk and serve.

The cloudy water in which the husks and oatmeal had been steeped was sometimes drunk without being boiled, and this was called sooslagh - " a drink with body in it".

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