The Culture and People of the Isle of Man
While the Isle of Man has a rick historical culture derived from its Celtic and Norse origins, much of this is reflected primarily in the language spoken there. English has become the common language of communication but you will find that there is a Gaelic accent amongst the people of the island (known as Manx). There is currently a huge effort to retain this historical and richly cultural language of the Manx people and the government has actively campaigned for this.
The Isle of Man is also rich with migrant culture with people coming from South Africa and other parts of the world to join this simple yet meaningful lifestyle on the island. While most residents are of English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish descent, there still remain strong cultural roots in the Viking and Celtic traditions.
Consequently, for the tourist, there is much to absorb in terms of culture. It is common to have a variety of culturally related activities throughout the year, and visitors to the island can participate and observe these to get a sense of the people on the island. With many annual showcases of Manx Gaelic dance and music as well as literature and art events, it is possible to time your holidays in order to be a part of this.
Cultural Events
A must visit is the Manx Music Festival in May of each year. This provides an opportunity for local talent to showcase Manx music that is a combination of traditional music lore as well as more modern music bands. If you are interested in attending this, it is usually conducted in Douglas at different locations and you will need to check for specific dates before making your travel and accommodation bookings.
July is also a good month to visit the Isle of Man for some cultural revelations. The Yn Cruinnaght Inter-Celtic Festival is conducted then. Yn Cruinnaght which means “the gathering” in Manx celebrates Manx culture and its relationship with other places that have Celtic origins. This includes Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany and Cornwall.
The 2011 celebrations saw performances by Scottish bands, fiddle-led music performances, modern Cornish dances and even Appalachian dancing. If you are able to attend during the festivities you will find your calendar full with a list of events that provide a insight into the rich history that forms a part of the Isle of Man’s Celtic and Viking traditions and roots.
If you are unable to attend these specific events, there is still the opportunity to listen in to live music from the past. There are local bands that regularly perform around the clubs in Douglas although the music is a mixture of the old and the new.
In terms of arts and crafts, the Manx Museum is arguably the best source of information about this. There are also workshops conducted at the Norman Sayle Gallery that you can attend if you have an interest in learning details about Manx arts and artists.
