Posted on 01/10/2020 5:52:09 PM PST by nickcarraway
In times past, the sight of cavorting knights fighting to the death would have been a familiar sight in the streets around the island over Christmas.
Once a firm fixture of the island’s festive and folkloric calendar, this year a group of Manx cultural enthusiasts are planning to bring the traditional Whiteboys plays back, and will perform the play on a number of occasions throughout this coming Saturday (December 14).
The plays themselves would always feature a central figure, who would be identified as a doctor, and he would narrate and oversee the performance, which would be based around a loose narrative.
It would always end in a spectacular fight to the death between two knights, watched by saints, before the good doctor magically resurrects the fallen warrior and brings peace.
Typically, the plays feature singing and dancing, and also wearing masks and outlandish, white costumes, which gave the Whiteboys, or ’Ny Guillyn Baney’, as they would have been called in Manx Gaelic, their name.
The most familiar aspect of the play that exists today is the Whiteboys sword dance, which is still performed by many local folk dance groups.
Phil Gawne has helped to organise the plays, and he wants everyone to enjoy this old traditional again.
’The Whiteboys plays are great fun to take part in and indeed to watch,’ said Phil.
’The acting, if you can call it that, is to say the least exaggerated, the lines are very funny, the sword fights are filled with daring do and finished of with a song and an intricate sword dance.
’We’re raising money for Mooinjer Veggey, the Manx language charity and we hope that people will take 15 minutes out of their busy Christmas preparations to enjoy this Manx Christmas tradition.’
The plays take place in Port St Mary at 10am, opposite the Coop, outside Port Erin railway station at 10.30am, the Methodist chapel in Colby at 11am and in Castletown square at 11.30am.
They then head to Douglas by the Strand Shopping centre at 1pm, Regent Street at 1.30pm and will finish in Michal Street, Peel, at 2.30pm.
Play that funky music.
Isle of Man it’s a little north of being between Dublin and Manchester.
The home of Happy Jack.
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