With the arrival of autumn, communities across the Isle of Man gather for their annual mhelliahs, a tradition that dates back centuries and remains a treasured part of Manx culture.

Originally held at the end of the summer harvest, mhelliahs are a time when local residents come together for auctions, dancing, and many celebrations.

Records of this tradition date back to 1811, when George Woods described attending a mhelliah on the Calf of Man, where workers were treated to beer, rum and lively dancing.

Today, although some details have changed, the spirit of mhelliah – community, generosity and celebration – continues to thrive.

The mhelliah has a dual heritage, with its origins in both farm folk celebrations and events held in chapels.

The transition between these two traditions was not easy.

Historically, mhelliahs on the farm centered around the climax of the harvest, with the picking of the last sheaf of corn – an important moment known as Babban ny Mheillea.

This sheaf was fashioned into a figure symbolizing the bounty of the season and was often cut with great ceremony, accompanied by the cheers of the farm workers.

Once assembled, it became a key part of the festivities that followed, which included feasting, dancing and, as described by George Woods in 1811, the generous distribution of beer and rum.

Manx scholar Stephen Miller has extensively documented these earlier customs, noting how the introduction of agricultural mechanization led to the decline of agricultural celebrations in their traditional form.

In his work he noted that Canon John Kewley was an important figure in the history of the Manx tradition, and in 1923 he published an article based on his memories of country life on the Isle of Man.

One of the many interesting descriptions of a mhelliah reads: “The Mheillea at the end, the supper, the dancing on the barn loft carefully dusted for the occasion, the whistling accordion, which was to act as violin, because fiddlers had become few in number; the jough; the regret when it was announced that it was time to go home; the impatient are looking forward to next year’s Mheillea.

He adds that Mhelliah is the time when “all those who have a farm give, with an abundance of strong beer”.

Today, what remains of the original mhelliahs on the farm can be seen as a revived practice rather than a continuing, unbroken tradition.

The folkloric roots are, however, preserved thanks to educational efforts such as those undertaken by Chloe Woolley of Culture Vannin and Jo Callister of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture (DESC), who introduced the stories of Babban ny Mheillea into the schools as part of their Hop tu Naa Harvest Roadshow.

The evolution of mhelliah toward celebrations in chapels began in the 19th century, as rural communities increasingly gathered in chapels to give thanks for the harvest.

Unlike their agricultural counterparts, which were closely tied to specific agricultural estates or contexts, chapel-based mhelliahs emphasized community involvement and collective celebration.

Yvonne Cresswell’s research highlights how these events became intertwined with chapel life, evolving to include elements such as fundraising auctions, where donated goods were sold for the benefit of the community local or the chapel itself.

Stephen Miller and Cresswell both point out that the chapel-based mhelliah allowed the tradition to remain relevant even as the agricultural emphasis diminished.

During these events, the spirit of generosity and community remained central, with auctions serving as a way to support both local causes and collective well-being.

Although the celebrations have evolved over time, the essence of mhelliah – the community and spirit of generosity – has remained the same, with many sporting clubs, societies and island pubs keeping this ancient Manx tradition alive.