For those of you who can’t imagine celebrating Christmas without running around a muddy field with a handful of like-minded people swinging sticks at a tiny ball, then maybe you should have a go at Cammag.

The traditional annual game of the ancient Manx sport takes place, as ever, on the Tynwald Green, St John’s at 2pm on Boxing Day.

The match-up will see two teams of indeterminate numbers play for either the North or the South, with little in the way of rules, save for a general frowning-upon of the use of hockey sticks.

A lump of gorse wood is preferable, although all manner hurling or shinty sticks or anything, including brooms, lengths of old pallets, walking sticks and crutches with old boots nailed to them have been regularly seen on the playing field.

The match is contended over three halves and, following the whistle at 3pm, there will be an equally traditional post-match ’discussion’ in the Tynwald Hotel, where there will also be a session of traditional Manx music performed.

Cammag is a old form of hurling or shinty, themselves both older forms of hockey, and was once the national game of choice across the island, before losing out in popularity to football at the turn of the 1900s.

The North will be all out for revenge after being narrowly pipped for the trophy, losing 4-3 to the South during a spirited, but wet and muddy encounter last year.