Hop-tu-naa pendant in the shape of a witch's head
Date made: 1970
Description: A handmade brass pendant in the shape of a witch's head or mask, made as a Hop-tu-naa souvenir. The pendant was given to Miss I.M. Killip, the Manx Museum Folklife Survey Collector, as a present by the Berrey Dhone Manx dance group at Hop-tu-naa (the Manx equivalent of Halloween) on 31 October 1970.
The pendant has been cut from a sheet of brass and has the inscription 'Miss I.Killip with best wishes Berrey Dhone' scratched on the reverse.
The Berrey Dhone dance group flourished during the 1960s and 70s and were named after 'Berrey Dhone' (Brown Betty), the powerful witch figure in the traditional Manx ballad of that name. The choice of a witch's head pendant would have been most appropriate as a gift from the group at Hop-tu-naa. It may also refer to 'Jinny-the-witch', the character in a song sung by children as they go house to house with turnip lanterns on Hop-tu-naa night. During the 20th century there were revivals in various aspects of traditional Manx cultural life such as language, music and dance and the formation of several Manx dance groups. The Manx Folklife Survey was started at the Manx Museum in 1948. It was responsible for the recording of a large quantity of information from elderly members of the Manx community about traditional life in the Isle of Man in the late 19th century.
Measurements: overall: 9 cm
Materials: brass
Object name: pendant
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 1986-0078