The history of Scotland's fire festival Beltane as Scots celebrate start of summer
Most of us will recognise the beginning of June as the start of the summer. But centuries ago, Scotland actually celebrated the new season on May 1, with an ancient festival that marked the end of spring.
Beltane is a Gaelic festival that dates way back to the Iron Age, which was historically celebrated across Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man. This ancient celebration is just one of four Gaelic festivals that signify the start of each new season—the others being Samhuinn on November 1, Imbolc on February 1, and Lughnasadh on August 1.
Latha Bealltainn (which means Beltane in Scots Gaelic), is believed to translate to 'bright fire'. Traditionally, the festival ushered in the start of the pastoral summer season, during which time livestock was moved to summer pastures.
Due to the fact that crops and livestock such as cattle were so important during this time, ancient societies would carry out rituals at Beltane in order to protect them from natural- or supernatural- harm.
These ritualistic practices usually featured fire, and were carried out to please spirits or fairies that were believed to possess significant power over the lands.
Burning bonfires was one of the most notable rituals that took place during the festival of Beltane, which was done to commemorate the growing power of the sun in summer after long months of winter darkness.
Flames, smoke, and ash were all thought to possess mystical protective properties, and the festival also saw both people and livestock moving around the fire, and in some cases even leaping over it.
Another practice that was commonly carried out was the decorating of cattle horns with flowers to appease the fairies, and the offering of food or milk at trees where they were thought to live.
Some communities also traditionally chose a virgin woman to be their 'May Queen', who would lead marches and songs at Beltane.
A local man would also be selected as the 'Green Man', and the two would marry in a symbolic ceremony that represented fertility and rebirth as summer began.
Nowadays, the festival of Beltane has been modernised and takes place on Edinburgh's Calton hill on the evening of April 30. It takes the form of a procession that starts at Edinburgh's National Monument.
The modern version of this ancient festival involves acrobats, dancers, musicians, puppeteers, and of course, fire.
The festival is an immersive and interactive experience, with no barriers between the audience and performers.
Characters from the original celebration will make an appearance as the May Queen and the Green Man lead the procession. Performers are painted bright colours, while many of them appear semi-nude as they follow in the parade.
Over the course of the festival, guests observe the death and rebirth of the Green Man in a symbolic ritual echoing the ancient festival, and signalling the beginning of summer.
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STV News
an hour ago
- STV News
Moderator brought to tears over wreckage of church destroyed by fire
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Church of Scotland The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland at St Mungo's in Cumbernauld Speaking at a gathering outside what is left of the building, Mrs Frew said: 'How often do we hear it said and sung that the 'church is not a building, the church is a people?' 'But people need a gathering place and this has been your gathering place since 1966. 'A building described as iconic, a landmark – a building that holds a special place in the lives and the memories of so many.' St Mungo's Church is now part of Trinity Parish Church, a union formed from Cumbernauld Old Church and Kildrum and St Mungo's churches in August last year. Mrs Frew said: 'I'm conscious that there has been much change in recent times with the coming together of the churches that make up Cumbernauld Trinity. 'I've read of your plans and hopes and dreams, the St Mungo's Hub was, is, a big part of your vision for the future. STV News St Mungo's Church in Cumbernauld 'Following this awful fire, so much will be on hold, time will be needed to grieve, to re-think, to re-imagine, to seek God's guidance. 'You are very much in the thoughts and prayers of members and congregations across the Church of Scotland.' Among those gathered was Morag Rusk, the session clerk of Cumbernauld Trinity Church. Reflecting on Saturday night, she said: 'I was alerted just after 8pm by a member of the congregation who was hysterical and told me 'St Mungo's is on fire, it's terrible, I'm heartbroken'. Church of Scotland Wreckage of St Mungo's Church 'I immediately went up to the church and just stood looking at the scene for an hour or two with people from the congregation. 'We are absolutely devastated and still coming to terms with it, it is such a well-loved and unique building for the congregation and people in the town. 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'We have to get through our grief but we hope to honour this special place and recreate something in its memory as there is so much history for people – the scene of so many funerals, weddings and family events. 'You can see from the huge outpouring of shock and sadness in the community that it is such a loved building.' Rev Alastair Duncan, Interim Moderator of Cumbernauld Trinity Church, said he felt 'deep sadness' over what has happened. 'St Mungo's was a place that has seen many, many important occasions for 60 years so it's just deeply, deeply distressing and devastating for the congregation,' he added. 'Although it wasn't the principal place of worship of the united Cumbernauld Trinity congregation, it was still very much in use. 'To lose all of that, the history, the memories, the associations, as well as to lose the capacity for all the community groups that were using it and the possibility of what might have been in the future, is utterly devastating.' Mr Duncan said the congregation is 'very much in mourning for what it's lost'. 'It's early days but the hope is that there'll be something new as Cumbernauld is to be extensively redeveloped for the next ten to 15 years, new houses are to be built very close to the site,' he added. 'This church and all the artistic impressions of the future was very much in the plan so it would be tragic if there wasn't something fit-for-purpose built to replace it in the years to come. 'That remains to be seen and decided but at the moment it is a time to grieve, a time to mourn, a time for lament.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Eerie ghost village no one knows why it was abandoned as people told to enter at own risk
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Daily Record
29-07-2025
- Daily Record
More parents are ditching Celtic baby names amid 'cultural identity' fears
The Record has listed the most popular Celtic baby names in 2024 but it seems they could be on the road out Scotland has a deep Celtic history and heritage, with strong ties to our Irish and Welsh counterparts. The culture and language, specifically Gaelic, have significantly shaped Scotland's identity and is part of its living culture today. When it comes to having children, parents may draw on this strong sense of identity when it comes to names. It is not uncommon to have an Isla or an Eilidh in your university class, or bump into a Harris or a Finlay down the pub. However, the latest data analysis by language learning marketplace Preply of birth records from the past 20 years reveals a steep drop of 37 per cent in Celtic-origin baby names. According to Preply, this shows that language endangerment has extended beyond spoken words, now affecting how people name their children. Celtic languages belong to two branches: Gaelic (including Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic) and Brythonic (Welsh, Cornish, and Breton). UNESCO had classified all six as endangered to some degree. Irish is listed as "definitely endangered" and others as "vulnerable". The dominance of English is suggested to have gradually eroded native speaker communities, influencing how parents named their children, with fewer Celtic names being chosen as the languages themselves lost ground. Preply's analysis used the official UK birth records from 2003 to 2023. An interesting point to note, though is that Scottish girls' names have actually risen, despite the overall decline. Scottish girls' names have upped in use by 14 per cent - the only language to have jumped on the whole table alongside Cornish boys' names, which spiked by a huge 633 per cent. Anna Pyshna, spokesperson for Preply, said: "While some languages such as Cornish show signs of revival with an increase in names given to boys, the overall decline highlights the continuing impact of language erosion on cultural identity markers like personal names. "Names are intimate symbols of cultural identity. When Celtic names fade from birth records, it signals more than just shifting trends. It suggests a disconnect from ancestral languages and heritage. "Even with current revival programmes, many young parents may feel less connected to Celtic languages if their own identities were not shaped by them, potentially perpetuating a cycle of decline." The most common names for girls and boys in Scotland in 2024 included a host of Celtic names. Rory, Harris, Finlay, Brodie and Finn were all in the top 20 for boys. Isla, Bonnie, and Orla were in the top 20 for girls' names. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. So, all of this begs the question - will a Celtic language revival translate back into names? "The increasing visibility of Celtic languages in education and media offers hope," Anna assured. "But will this translate into more children receiving Celtic names? "Will future birth records reflect renewed pride and connection to these ancient tongues? "The next decade will be telling. The story of Celtic languages is still being written, and names, which is the first gift we give our children, could be a powerful sign of cultural resurgence or continued retreat." Numbers and percentage changes by language branch and gender Language Girls' Raw Changes % Change (Girls) Boys' Raw Changes % Change (Boys) Gaelic 1,758 → 1,441 −18% 7,107 → 2,159 −70% Irish 13,681 → 7,569 −45% 22,575 → 16,077 −29% Scottish 3,072 → 3,495 +14% 12,090 → 3,952 −67% Welsh 10,933 → 2,437 −78% 13,234 → 4,972 −62% Cornish 47 → 36 −23% 3 → 22 +633%
