Tynwald Day: Encyclopedia II - Tynwald Day - Procession

Tynwald Day - Procession

Before Tynwald sits, the individual presiding inspects the Guard of Honour and lays a wreath at the National War Memorial, which was inaugurated in 1923. A foreign head of state attending the ceremony may accompany the Lieutenant Governor, as HM The King of Norway did in 2002.

At eleven o'clock in the forenoon, Tynwald convenes in the Chapel of St John the Baptist for a religious service. Thereafter, they proceed to Tynwald Hill. The path is strewn with rushes; the tradition is traceable to the Celtic custom of propitiating the sea god, Manannan, by offering bundles of rushes on Midsummer's Eve. The route is aligned with numerous flagpoles, which fly both the red national flag and the blue parliamentary flag (which displays a lymphad galley, similar in design to a Viking longboat).

The first procession includes clergymen and certain government officials. The second procession, known as the Tynwald Court Procession, follows; in order, it comprises the officers of the House of Keys, the members of the House of Keys, the Chief Minister of the Isle of Man, the Speaker of the House of Keys, a messenger of the House of Keys, officers of the Legislative Council, members of the Legislative Council, the Attorney General (an ex officio member of the Legislative Council), the Deemsters, the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man (also an ex officio member of the Legislative Council), the President of Tynwald and a messenger of the Legislative Council. Thereafter, two guards, the Sword-bearer, the Lord of Mann (or the individual representing him or her) and attendants follow. Even when not presiding, the Lieutenant Governor, along with his attendants, appears at the rear of the procession.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Procession", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki