There's a celebration of Manx May Day at Cregneash today (Monday).

The programme includes a range of activities throughout the day, including the chance to learn about the folklore and traditions of the occasion through music, dance and storytelling in Harry Kelly's cottage.

Howard Caine reports (text, below, from attached audio file):

Manx National Heritage curator for social history Yvonne Cresswell says the Manx May Day celebrations mark the time between the death of winter and the rebirth of summer, which was thought to be particularly dangerous period in Manx folklore.

Visitors to Cregneash will have the opportunity to make crosh cuirns, and learn about traditional Manx cooking and the type of food that was popular at this time of the year.

There will be traditional butter making in Church Farm and for visitors who get hungry watching all this food being prepared, the Cregneash tearooms will be offering their traditional Manx fare.

The day runs from ten o'clock this morning until 5pm.