Tynwald DayLaa Tinvaal

Tynwald Day (Manx: Laa Tinvaal) is the national day of the Isle of Man, held each year on or around 5th July at Tynwald Hill in St John’s 1 2. It commemorates the ancient Viking-origin parliament of Mann. On this day the Laws are promulgated in a bilingual ceremony at the open-air Tynwald Hill and petitioners from across the island present requests to the lawmakers 3. The atmosphere is solemn and patriotic, with community choirs, bagpipes, and the raising of the Manx flag.

Rooted in Norse-Gaelic tradition, Tynwald Day is considered the world’s oldest continuous parliament. It affirms Manx cultural identity by performing many traditions (e.g. speaking Manx Gaelic) that date back over a millennium 1.