Photo Story: The Beltane Fire Festival

in #photography7 years ago

The Beltane Fire Festival is an event run by a group called the Beltane Fire Society. It runs on the 30th April every year in the center of Edinburgh, Scotland. The festival itself is an interpretation (not 100% re-enctment) of an ancient Iron Age Celtic ritual. Think Wickerman but without the murdering and the bees and a lot more nudity.

20140430-IMG_5666 copy.jpgThe Green Man watches the May Queen and her honour guard - the Whites.

The original festival is a celebration of the return to summer and the return of the fertility of the land. This would normally have taken place around the time that the livestock would have to be put out to pasture.

20140430-IMG_5658 copy.jpgThe Green Man watches the May Queen and her honour guard - the Whites.

The modern day festival started up in 1988 by a group of enthusiasts with the support of the School of Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Since then it has grown to a 300 strong group that sells out every year. It used to be free and you would only get a couple hundred people showing up to watch. Now half the city seems to turn up on Calton hill, where the event takes place every year.

20140430-IMG_5674 copy.jpgThe Green Man watches the May Queen and her honour guard - the Whites.

The festival starts at the monument know as the Acropolis. There is a procession which is lead by the May Queen and Green Man and it starts with the lighting of a fire which lights the procession’s torches. Processional drummers create a beat that provides the timing for the procession as they march across the hill.

20140430-IMG_5677 copy.jpg
I was SUPER annoyed this pic is out of focus

The Blue man escorts the May Queen and the Green man at the front of the procession. The move the crowds by slapping those bushels in their hands onto the ground. If you are in the way... well tough. Effective as every one does get out of the way!

20140430-IMG_5680 copy.jpgThe May Queen Herself.

20140430-IMG_5691 copy.jpgThe Processional Drummers

The procession meets various groups along the way that either help or hinder their progress with little performances and crazy cool costumes befitting the groups they represent. Usually the 4 elements (earth, wind, water and of course fire).

20140430-IMG_5703 copy.jpgBeltane Performers

20140430-IMG_5701 copy.jpgBeltane Performers

20140430-IMG_5743 copy.jpgBeltane Performers

The costumes and performances vary from year to year depending on the creativity and imagination of the performers who create their own costumes and choreograph their own performances. Nature themes tend to feature quite heavily.

20140430-IMG_5713 copy.jpgBeltane Performers

20140430-IMG_5753 copy.jpgBeltane Performers

20140430-IMG_5757 copy.jpgBeltane Performers

Once the procession ends the Green Man and May Queen ‘spark the birth’ of summer by lighting the bon fire that people dance around. Fire spectacles and displays a go-go at this point of the procession.

20140430-IMG_5772 copy.jpgI don't think he'd feel too out of place on Game of Thrones!

20140430-IMG_5773 copy.jpgBeltane Performers - See the May Queen and her posse in the background

20140430-IMG_5783 copy.jpgBeltane Performers - See the May Queen and her posse in the background

After that people party and dance and enjoy the atmosphere until the energy fizzles out and people go home, usually quite drunk. The performers usually go to an after party that goes on until dawn.

20140430-IMG_5803 copy.jpgBeltane Performers

There is also a religious component here, as an Iron Age Celtic festival/ritual/practice/tradition (whatever you wanna call it) it is Pagan in nature. Its full-blown 100% unadulterated Paganism. Christianity didn't come in until after the Romans, so the Celts were all Pagans. Anyway, this doesn't sit well with some locals, so every year you get people that go to try and hand out Christian flyers and try to convince people to leave. No one ever does, they paid good money for their tickets! Its harmless and generally doesn't cause trouble, but you get the occasional person who gets real worked up about it and needs to be ejected from the event.

20140430-IMG_5708 copy.jpgAs you can see it can get a bit crazy, and crowded


Thanks for taking the time to read/look at this post. If you have any questions about Beltane do ask in the comments as I am quite sure I have left some things out.


Here's a post from earlier today showing the 'beasties' which are somewhat under represented in this post. They are mischievous imps that play with fire and drums and run around half naked: Color Challenge - MondayRed: The Beasties of Beltane
(Warning: tagged NSFW just like this post)



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Nice.

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Wow! Quite a spectacle! Looks like you have so much happening in Edinburgh.

Spectacle is a good word :) Yeah there's always something going on in this town :)

If i was not completely sure before i started following you, now i am positive that i am visiting Edinburgh some time for sure. I have so many reasons now to do so :) Tourism department should definitely pay you lol

ha ha! Damn right they should! :) You definitely should! There's plenty to see and its pretty great for photography!

Omg, this Festival is amazzing! Thanks for sharing! Wish I could see it someday :D

Thanks for reading :) it is quite a unique experience. I highly recommend it, its great fun! :)