Edinburgh is a magical place. People living in, or visiting the capital are never far from reminders of an intriguing and truly fascinating past. It is a place in which days gone by and ancient traditions are often still very much present. One of these links with our ancestors and their traditions is the pagan Beltane Festival, which the city celebrates every year. In 2012 it takes place on Monday, 30th April.
A local charity, the Beltane Fire Society, stages a colourful festival on one of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks, Calton Hill. Since 1988, this modern day Beltane Festival uses ancient rituals to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the beginning of May. Hundreds of volunteers get involved in staging the event, which has its roots in Celtic culture. The symbolic significance of this costumed torchlight procession lies in a reminder that our lives are lived according to the rhythm of nature and its changing seasons.
This year’s event will be a very special celebration of summer – in its 25th year this magical festival promises to charm its thousands of visitors with a spectacular fire display. The afterparty, the traditional Grand May Day Ceilidh (at The Caves, in the Old Town of the capital) comes highly recommended for those who wish to dance and party their way into Beltane during the wee hours of 1st May.
If you’re in Edinburgh with your family on the weekend before the big day you may want to plan attending the Beltane Family Day on Saturday, 28th April. A diverse range of events like Story Telling, Character Games and an opportunity to meet the May Queen are sure to entertain the whole family and get you in the mood for the beginning of the season ancient Celtic people referred to as Beltane.
The Beltane Festival Night 2012
Date and Time: 30th April, 8.00pm – 1.00am
Location: Calton Hill, by Waterloo Place, near the east end of Princes Street.
Tickets: £6 plus booking fee. Tickets are available from The Hub (Edinburgh Old Town, close to the Castle) and Ripping Records (South Bridge). Tickets Scotland (www.tickets-scotland.com) and The Hub (www.hubtickets.co.uk) also sell tickets online. Tickets on the day will cost £8 if still available.
Dos and Don’ts:
- Please don’t take any glass bottles with you to enjoy the show.
- Do wrap up warmly.
- Do be ready to enjoy a magical night!
The Beltane Family Day 2012
Date and Time: 28th April, 10.00am – 3.00pm
Location: Calton Hill, by Waterloo Place, near the east end of Princes Street.
Tickets: Free event.
Dos and Don’ts:
- Don’t be afraid to come dressed up if you like.
- Do bring a picnic.
- Do donate to the Beltane Fire Society to make next year’s event possible.
- Do note your interest in attending on the Beltane Fire Society’s website.
All factual information has been taken from the Beltane Fire Society’s website (http://beltane.org/) and its blog.