Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-19
YULETIDE AMONG MANXMEN
Come Very Curious Customs Observed on
the Isle of Man.
GAME OF cAMAG AND THE SHOOTING
dIuntinE the Wren nnd the Tradition
which Gnve Rise to lt-Choir
Competitions - DELL Very
and It's Observance.

In Manxland, or the Isle of Man, which
has been rendered SO famous through the
writings of Hall Game, few practices o:
ancient origin are still observed at Christ
mastide, the like of which seem not to exis
elsewhere.
The hrst reminder to Manxmen tina
Christmas is approaching comes from the
hddlers," who commence to call on every
family of any consequence four or five weeks
before the advent of the festive day. A
party of two or three ''fddlers" set out
about 3 o'clock every morning--eXcepting
Sundays, playing all kind of lively airs IL
being the duty of one Of the party to sa-
1ute the families so honored by them in a
loud, distinct voice, after this fashion:
"Good morning, Mr.. Quayle; good morning,
Mrs. Quayle; good morning. Master John
0he eldest SOM; good morning all the rest
of the family; past o'clock; fine, frosty
morning" And so they continue from
HOUSE to house. varying the sanitation
cording to the members of the family and
tho weather. the state Of which they never
fail to mention. Boys and girls lie awake
10 nights to hear the fddlers; and sometimes
the former steal noiselessly out of the
house and accompany the musicians on their
matutina tour.
THE COMPETITION OF THE CHoIRS.
One OF the oldest customs in the Isle of
Man is the meeting on Christmas eve OF all
the cholrs of each parish in their respective
parish churches for the singing of carols and
Christmas anthems. Formerly these We're
rendered In the Manx language; and even yet
this practice prevails In some OF the country
places, although In the majority of cases
English Is now used. In addition to the
church choir those of the Methodist and
primitive Methodist chapels are usually
present. these being the only denominations
that exist among the genuine Manx besides
the Established Church. The meeting of
choirs is called the 'Oeil Very pronounced
Del Very, which has about 1t all the ele-
ments of rivalry and excitement characteris-
tic of political convention in the United
States. From about 10 o'clock until mid
night the churches are crowded with the
parishoners and during these hours the
choirs sing their very best, not all together
but by turns and in spirit OF the warmest
emulation Sometimes also, choirs from con-
tiguous parishes meet In some particular
church for the came purpose, and then the
competition and excitement are still more in
tense. Tumultuous applause from their
friends reward the efforts of each. for the
aianx are musical people, gifted with fine
voices. and to an unusual degree endowed
with the power of song. kind of jury de-
cides which choir is the victor. this one. how
ever. receiving no prize. The honor OF being
declared the best choir is all that Is sought
after.
In the days gone by there was much
drinking OF jough, or Manx ale, both before
and alter the DELL Very, and II was con-
sdered fortunate II the AFFAIR did not end in
free ight between the partsans OF the
competing choirs. But tea drinking and So
cial pleasures at home lhaye taken the place
OF conytvial meetings and angry discussions
ut tho public house." After the DELL Very
tho ohoirs Sc, out at once to sing Christmas
hymns before the residences OF their re-
spsotiye church members, accompanied by
crowds OF young people OF both sexes, who
are drawn by the charm OF the beautiful
Christmas music. But outside gas church