by WeChat official account "ObervingfromIoM" 2025-01 
First Encounter with Manx Legends: Saddlestone and the Beginning of Good Luck
When we first settled on the Isle of Man, I wanted to spark my child's interest in local culture by exploring unique places that would ignite her curiosity. One day, we set out to find the legendary "Saddlestone." This large rock, shaped like a saddle, was located along a road near our neighborhood—a place we had driven and walked past many times without ever noticing it.
It wasn't until an elderly local lady shared the story behind it that I learned of its significance. According to legend, the rock was evidence of fairies riding their horses. After touching the stone, my child was convinced that her luck improved over the following days. While this was likely just psychological, the experience became a wonderful introduction to the rich folklore of the Isle of Man.
This illustration was also adopted by the local primary school as a totem and the inspiration for its emblem.
Living on the Isle of Man, you will inevitably come across unique customs and legends. For example, during Halloween, Manx people don’t use pumpkins to make lanterns. Instead, they carve turnips, known locally as "Turnip," which resemble the Chinese xin li mei radish from Beijing.
Of course, there’s also the almost universally known Fairy Bridge. Although I don’t know how to greet the fairies in Manx, I always make sure to share this unique custom with friends and family whenever we pass by. Just as Chang’e and Sun Wukong are integral to Chinese culture, today, let’s explore the unique legends and traditions of the Isle of Man.
The Unique Charm of the Isle of Man: A Blend of Legend and Nature
If you’ve read my previous articles, you may already know that the Isle of Man, located at the heart of the Irish Sea, is an independent nation. Despite its small size, it boasts a rich history and culture. Its legends are a unique blend of Celtic, Norse, English, and Scottish influences, forming a distinctive folklore tradition.
Manx legends are more than just oral tales; they are deeply intertwined with the island’s natural landscape and everyday life. From fairies to giants, from mysterious lakes to ancient stones, these stories are filled with a sense of wonder and magic.
Manx legends are more than just ghost stories; they embody the local people's reverence for nature and their explanations of supernatural phenomena. For example, Manx fishermen share superstitions similar to those of Chinese fishermen. In China, when eating fish, fishermen avoid flipping it over, as "turning over" symbolizes capsizing—a serious taboo.
Similarly, on the Isle of Man, whistling on a boat or bringing fresh flowers aboard is strictly forbidden to ward off bad luck. Another parallel between Manx and Chinese traditions is the belief that women should not board fishing boats, as it is thought to bring misfortune—a superstition also found in many coastal regions of China.
Classic Legends: Fairies, Stones, and the Mysterious Bridge
Among Manx legends, fairies (Themselves) are some of the most common and significant figures in local folklore. These magical beings are not only beautiful but also possess great power, capable of influencing human fate. Many Manx stories revolve around fairies, including the tale of the Fairy Sweetheart.
According to legend, fairies would sometimes fall in love with human men, but these relationships often ended in tragedy. The fairy’s presence would gradually drain the man’s life force, causing him to weaken and eventually perish. This bears a striking resemblance to Chinese folklore about huli jing (fox spirits), who similarly enchant humans with their beauty, only to bring misfortune in the end. This legend is documented in Manx Folk Tales…
And 《The Folklore of the Isle of Man》
These stories are well-documented in Manx Folk Tales, which notes that they were passed down through oral tradition. In particular, elders would share these tales with children by the fireside during winter—much like how I listened to ghost stories from my grandparents when I was young. Written down, they have become the Isle of Man’s own version of Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.
In the island’s capital, Douglas, there stands a massive white quartz stone known as The White Lady due to its shape. To this day, the stone remains in the middle of the road, forcing vehicles to detour around it. According to legend, the stone is cursed, and anyone who attempts to move it will suffer misfortune. This reverence for natural objects mirrors Chinese traditions, such as feng shui stones or sacred trees.
Margaret Killip, in The Folklore of the Isle of Man, recounts that this legend even influenced urban planning in the 1930s. When an attempt was made to relocate the stone, workers reportedly began feeling unwell and refused to continue the job. In the end, folklore triumphed over modernization, and the road was respectfully built around The White Lady.
The Fairy Bridge of the Isle of Man is one of the island’s most famous legends. It is said that anyone crossing the bridge must greet the fairies, or they will bring misfortune upon themselves.
During World War II, a military officer reportedly forbade pilots from saluting while passing the bridge. Mysteriously, several aircraft went missing soon after. Only when the ban was lifted did things return to normal. This deep respect for fairies is reminiscent of Chinese beliefs in tudi shen (earth gods) or shan shen (mountain gods).
Sophia Morrison, in Manx Fairy Tales, provides a detailed account of this legend, noting that the tradition of greeting the fairies is still widely observed in everyday life on the Isle of Man.
Customs and Superstitions: Fortune-Telling and the Symbolism of Tartan
In the Isle of Man, a traditional game called Goggins was once played by young girls to predict the profession of their future husbands. Objects representing different trades were placed into a cup—water symbolised a sailor, a piece of cloth represented a tailor, and a small wooden block signified a carpenter. The girls, blindfolded, would randomly select their cup to determine their fate.
On one occasion, a girl pulled out a dead long-tailed rat, and everyone laughed, saying she would marry someone connected to death. Surprisingly, she later wed a wealthy undertaker. This custom reminds me of the Chinese tradition of matching birth charts (bazi) to predict a couple’s marital future.
Dennis W. Turner, in More Manx Myths, provides a detailed account of this game, noting that it was still popular in rural areas of the Isle of Man in the early 20th century.
Manx Tartan is one of the cultural symbols of the Isle of Man. According to legend, a weaver sought to capture the island’s natural beauty in a woven pattern—blue for the sea, green for the hills, gold for the gorse, purple for the heather, and white for the cottages. This reverence for natural colors mirrors the Chinese tradition of Wu Xing (the Five Elements), where colors are imbued with symbolic meanings.
This legend is documented in Manx Folk Tales, which describes how the tradition was rediscovered and popularized in modern times.
The Legacy of Legends: From Oral Tradition to Illustration
Manx legends are not just ancient stories; they have been revitalized in modern society. Since the 19th century, there has been a growing effort to preserve and revive Manx language and traditions. Many of the books I’ve referenced were published as part of this cultural revival, compiling and preserving these oral traditions.
Beyond the stories themselves, the accompanying illustrations are also distinctive. They generally follow a traditional supernatural aesthetic, with a somewhat dark tone, incorporating many symbolic elements unique to the Isle of Man.
Nowadays, the legends of the Isle of Man have not remained in the past but have been brought to life through the work of artists. For example, in the book The Wallababies, the illustrations by local artist Julia Ashby Smyth give these stories new vitality through her unique artistic style. Her illustrations blend traditional elements with a modern perspective, making Manx folklore more vivid and immersive.
The Artistic World of Julia Ashby Smyth: Bridging Tradition and Modernity
At the Manx Folklore, Rare Sightings and Urban Faeries exhibition held at the Manx Museum, I had the privilege of meeting the artist Julia Ashby Smyth in person. Her artwork seamlessly blends traditional stories with modern imagination, transporting viewers into a world that exists between reality and fantasy.
Her works are filled with a deep understanding of Manx folklore and a profound reverence for nature. One of my favorite pieces in the exhibition was Reunion, which depicts a tender kiss between a dragon and its underwater companion. The "Dragon Rock" is a peculiar reef on the way to the Isle of Man’s largest islet, Calf of Man—its shape unmistakably resembles a frozen Western dragon, doesn’t it?
Julia’s imagination gave me a whole new perspective on Dragon Rock—perhaps there really is another dragon beneath the water. The piece is subtitled Yn Burroo - The Drinking Dragon, and through delicate linework and masterful use of light and shadow, Julia captures both the dragon’s immense presence and its gentle nature. In the painting, the dragon’s scales shimmer under the sunlight, while its underwater companion is outlined with soft, flowing lines, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. This unique perspective not only offers viewers a fresh interpretation of the dragon but also adds an emotional depth to the legend.
Another striking piece is Flying Fish, where the fish’s scales are embellished with rhinestones that shimmer under the lights, making it seem as if it’s truly soaring through the air. Julia uses rich colors and dynamic lighting to give the fish’s wings a delicate, translucent quality, blending seamlessly with the surrounding natural elements. This attention to detail not only highlights the beauty of the flying fish but also immerses the viewer in the legend’s mysterious aura.
Julia mentioned that in her imagination, these flying fish were always meant to be this enchanting—so effortlessly fluid and graceful that I couldn’t help but wonder if, besides her favorite pencils, her best creative companion, chocolate, played a role in bringing this piece to life.
Another example is Mossy Stump Wizard, inspired by a photograph taken by chance, capturing the delicate connection between nature and mystery. In the painting, the wizard’s face is covered in moss, as if he has become one with the natural world. This unique perspective not only evokes a sense of mystique surrounding the wizard but also reflects his deep reverence for and guardianship of nature.
Merrily Midwinter depicts a guardian known as "Granny," who is responsible for caring for hibernating creatures, especially those experiencing their first winter sleep. Many of her "grandchildren"—spotted mushrooms—help by marking out cozy resting places for the hibernators.
In the exhibition, Julia also explores the allure and danger of the fairy realm through The Faerey Cup. According to legend, drinking from the fairy cup can transport you to a world where time flows differently—what feels like a single night there could mean decades have passed in the human world. Through delicate brushwork and mysterious hues, the painting captures both the enchantment and the peril of the fairy realm.
The Night Man portrays a nocturnal figure dwelling in a cave in Glen Roy. He is said to howl warnings to fishermen about approaching storms, but if you venture too close, he may inflict sudden pain upon you, even twisting your wrist or ankle without warning.
Julia’s work also features many humorous characters. For instance, Eggy McChuffin is a mischievous little trickster who loves sneaking into your pocket or couch—only to release an unfortunate smell at the most formal and inconvenient moments.
Meanwhile, Nefarious Nibbler is one of the Isle of Man’s notorious “Flying Fang” sprites. These little creatures have a peculiar fondness for appearing at picnics and barbecues, especially drawn to the scent of freshly shaved legs and the warmth of a well-packed lunchbox.
For an IT veteran, it’s only fitting to end with Julia’s IT Fey series. These works bring to life a quirky and lovable group of Nano-fey, tiny sprites that seem to lurk in every corner of our daily lives. Julia’s imagination shines through in these whimsical creatures, making them feel almost real.
One standout is Lens-Licker—a transparent, gooey little mischief-maker with an irresistible urge to lick glasses. If you wear glasses, you’re undoubtedly familiar with its “handiwork”—think about stepping into a steaming hotpot restaurant in winter, and your lenses instantly fogging up. That’s probably Lens-Licker at play. Julia’s detailed illustration captures this sneaky sprite hiding under a table, always ready to strike at the perfect moment.
"Philly O’Phish" is a vigilant "fisherman" patrolling the vast ocean of the internet. Armed with its homemade clickbait, it hunts down malicious phishers and scammers. Julia brings Philly to life with vivid colors and dynamic lines, depicting it weaving through the sea of data as if it were truly safeguarding our online security.
"Little Bugga" is a mischievous Buggane Nano-fey that sneaks into your computer to cause all sorts of technical glitches—blue screens, system freezes, you name it. The funniest part? It loves using the motherboard as a makeshift grill to warm up sausage rolls.
"Wi-Fly" is a sneaky little sprite that uses “clips” to hijack Wi-Fi signals. If your internet keeps dropping for no reason, chances are it's up to no good.
"Ethelnet" is one of the few kind-hearted IT sprites. She takes care of the Gigglebites, preventing them from devouring your data the way goats munch on flower beds. Julia depicts Ethelnet as a grandmotherly figure, embodying warmth and responsibility.
"Flipperrer" is a mischievous little sprite that loves to mess with USB ports. It ensures that no matter how many times you flip your USB plug, it won’t go in—until you finally swear in frustration, at which point it graciously allows entry. Julia confessed that the inspiration came from her own struggles with external hard drives—while IT folks responded to this universal annoyance by inventing USB-C, artists, she mused, find beauty in the mistakes.
The folklore and traditions of the Isle of Man are an inseparable part of its charm. Julia reflected on how deeply rooted her inspiration is in this unique island, even though the creative process can sometimes be painful. With a sheepish smile, she admitted that her friends often say she doesn’t just paint—she vomits her art onto the canvas. Crude as it sounds, it perfectly captures the raw, unfiltered outpouring of inspiration in those moments of creation.
My child told me that Julia’s exhibition was the most captivating one she had ever seen. And from the light in her eyes as she said it, I knew that Manx folklore and art had come alive for her in a way they never had before. As for me—next time I see Dragon Rock, I will almost certainly glimpse its unseen companion beneath the waves, and I will believe that, in some quiet moment, they might rise together, soaring into the sea and sky.
The legends of the Isle of Man, much like Julia’s artwork, do not simply exist—they live, breathe, and continue to grow.
With gratitude to Julia Ashby Smyth for permitting the use of images and information related to her and her work in this article.