Tynwald Day, Nation Day for the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is part of the United Kingdom and is located between the island that contains England, Scotland and Wales and the island of Ireland.  Their parliament has existed for over 1,000 years without a break making it the oldest continues parliament in the world.  It is on Tynwald Day that the laws are read aloud and put into force.  Also national government officers are sworn in as well.  The tradition of reading the laws from a mound or hill go back to the Norse man and the hill that they are read from in the Isle of Man are Tynwald Hill.  It is said the hill, which is man made, has soil from the perishes of all the islands the make up the Isle of Man.

Besides the reading of laws and swaring in of the goverment officels there has been a market and fair associated with the ceremony.  In recent years there has also been an effort to make this more of a celebreation with the festivities extending to the whole week. 

Links:

http://www.tynwald.org.im/about/tynday/current/Pages/current1.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tynwald_Day