The Mollag Bands: A Manx Christmas tradition
Channel: Culture Vannin
Date: 2018-12-14

'the town has been infested with these dreadful nuisances...'

One of the most rowdy and unruly Christmastime traditions in the Isle of Man was the Mollag Bands. These groups of young lads roam around the Isle of Man's towns making 'a rare din' with their singing, dancing and loud homemade instruments.
An essential part of the tradition was the mollag (an inflated sheep's bladder, traditionally used as a buoy), with which they would hit people on the street as a part of the fun, and also as an inducement for people to give them money, which they received generally to make them go away!
This upturning of respectability, carried out in disguise was a central part of the tradition 'Kegeesh Ommidjagh' (Foolish Fortnight) over Christmas in the Isle of Man, until the turn of the 20th Century.
In order to explain the tradition better, we asked a group of people to re-enact the tradition, taking Kirk Michael completely unawares!

More about this and other Manx traditions for Christmas can be found here: https://www.culturevannin.im/manx_year.html

Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man. We develop innovative, inclusive and exciting projects that promote and support all aspects of Manx culture.
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