A 1942 publication entitled Manx Calendar Customs makes the following observation about Oie’l Verrey:
On Christmas Eve, called in Manx, “Oie’l Verrey,” the Eve of Mary, a singular and interesting custom is observed, which attracts large numbers to the parish church for the purpose of singing carols (in Manx called Carvals) and which appears to be peculiar to the Isle of Man.
On this evening, the church having been decked with holly, ever greens, and flowers, after prayers the congregation commence singing their carvals, which they keep up with a spirit of great rivalry until a late hour. On this occasion the church assumes a brilliancy seen at no other time, for each person brings their own light, some of the candles being of large size, many of them formed into branches for the occasion, and adorned with gay ribbons. During the interval of the carols, parched peas are flung from all directions, the female portion of the singers having previously provided themselves with an ample stock to pelt their bachelor friends.
Alas, such a wonderful custom seems to have been abandoned by contemporary island folk. A traditional greeting for the season from the Isle of Man says:
Nollick Ghennal erriu, as blein feer vie
Seihll as slaynt da’n slane lught-thie;
Bea as gennallys eu bio ry-cheilley,
Shee as graih eddyr mraane as deiney
A Merry Christmas to you, and a very good year
Long life and health to the whole household;
Life and joy to you living together,
Peace and love between women and men.