I guess you think that Halloween is what you celebrate on 31st October (All Soul’s Night) but long before this tradition got going the Celtics celebrated their New Year on 31st October and in the Isle of Man they still do: welcome to Hop-tu-Naa.
We may not be in Ellan Vannin this year but at London's quirkiest Celtic Italian restaurant Real Man Pizza in Clerkenwell we will be celebrating anyway. And so the carved swedes (known as turnips on the Island) will go up as lanterns not just on Hop-tu-Naa itself but also the day before. We would encourage you to sing Jinnie the Witch. And we have a special two course menu available for just £10.
Hop-tu-Naa
My mother's gone away
And she won't be back until the morning
Jinnie the Witch flew over the house
To fetch the stick to lather the mouse
Hop-tu-Naa
My mother's gone away
And she won't be back until the morning
Hop-tu-Naa, Traa-la-laa
And the menu?
For starters, a gently curried soup made of swede (what else), carrot and Manx crab.
For the main course, a special Hop-tu-Naa Manx Pizza.
Should you wish you can have small piece of Soddag Valloo (Dumb Cake) as you leave but you must agree to eat in silence ( hence the name) and leave our restaurant walking backwards.
And for those two days only a shot of Manx Spirit, potentially one of the most unpleasant drinks known to man, will be just £2.
In advance may we wish all our customers a very happy Hop-tu-Naa.