What is being billed as the island’s biggest-ever turnip-carving competition has been announced to run across the Hop tu Naa period.

Hop tu Naa is the traditional Manx celebration of the Celtic New Year at the end of October, a time when we should be most wary of witchcraft and other such evil.

As a part of this, the Manx tradition is to carve a turnip - or ’moot’ as it’s known to many.

Thought by some as a tool to ward off evil, these moots are then traditionally taken around the community with well-known songs about Jinny the Witch and others.

Although children have always been rewarded for their turnips and songs, there is a chance to win something much more substantial from the Post Office this year.

Maxine Cannon, general manager stamps and coins at the Post Office, said: ’Joining in celebrations of Manx customs through the release of the Hop tu Naa stamp in our new stamp collection "Manx Folk Tradition" is an enjoyable part of the work we do to bring our culture and heritage alive to a worldwide audience.’

Competitors stand a chance of winning a railway season pass for two, 50 stamps, a selection of books and CDs plus further runner up prizes.

James Franklin of Culture Vannin said: ’Hop tu Naa is a wonderful chance to celebrate who we are and what makes the Isle of Man so wonderfully different and exciting.

’We are delighted to think that this competition gives people the chance to be recognised and celebrated for the wonderful things they are doing in keeping the Manx traditions alive and well today.’

To enter the competition, pictures of carved turnips should be submitted through e-mail, Twitter or Facebook.

Simply post a picture of your carved turnip online with the hashtag #htnturnipcomp or e-mail the pictures to [email protected]

The images will be shared online. Closing date for the competition will be November 5 and winners will be contacted via social media after November 10.

Information about Hop tu Naa - never say Halloween - traditions and suggestions for how to carve a turnip are available from the Culture Vannin website: www.culturevannin.im/hoptunaa