Latest news with #BeltaneFireFestival
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Edinburgh 'fire festival' in pictures as Scots celebrate start of summer
The Beltane Fire Festival is an annual event that takes place on Calton Hill and takes the form of a procession that starts at Edinburgh's National Monument. A unique festival took place in Edinburgh this week that celebrates the beginning of summer. The Beltane Fire Festival is an annual event that takes place on April 30 at Calton Hill. It takes the form of a procession that starts at Edinburgh's National Monument - and the one-of-a-kind festival involves acrobats, dancers, musicians, puppeteers, and more. It is an immersive and interactive experience, with no barriers between the audience and performers. The Beltane Fire Festival tells the story of the May Queen and the Green Man. The pair lead the procession, which also includes a wide variety of other colourful characters, joined by other performers painted in bright colours, with many semi-nude. Over the course of the festival, guests will observe the death and rebirth of the Green Man - and this symbolic ritual signals the beginning of summer. Here the Record takes a look at the best pictures from yesterday.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Chilly test of nerve as St Andrews students take their traditional May Day dip
It may not seem like the most productive way to study. But hundreds of students braved the freezing morning waters of the North Sea in a bid to boost their exam marks. Hordes of University of St Andrews students ran into the sea as the sun rose yesterday morning as part of their traditional May Dip. They made the plunge in the hope it brings them good luck for their upcoming exams, and the annual dip came the morning after their annual torchlit procession along the town's historic pier. Hundreds took part in the annual Gaudie Procession on Wednesday, with students walking along the newly reopened 14th century pier which had been closed following storm damage. Meanwhile thousands made their way to Edinburgh 's Calton Hill to celebrate the annual Beltane Fire Festival. Wednesday was the hottest day of the year so far in Scotland, with temperatures soaring to 24.4c. But yesterday conditions were cooling, reaching 17c in Edinburgh, 14c in Glasgow, and 19c near St Andrews, and are set to be even more mild come the weekend. Last month was Scotland's second sunniest April on record, with the Met Office recording more than double the usual levels for the country. But the warm and sunny conditions have taken their toll on water levels, with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency issuing a warning for the east coast. Water scarcity alerts have been issued by the agency for 17 areas amid the dry April which saw less than a third of the month's typical rainfall in parts. The warmest temperature yesterday was 20.9c at Charterhall, Berwickshire. Sea temperatures in and around St Andrews yesterday were about 9 to 10c, and as the sun rose the air temperature was around 13c.
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival 2025 sees huge crowds on Calton Hill
Beltane marks the turning of the seasons (Image: PA/Jane Barlow) The night was filled with drumming, hundreds of performers and plenty of fire - illuminating Calton Hill with 'a fierce and joyful energy', organisers said. Fire takes centre stage in the show (Image: PA/Jane Barlow) Jenny Bloom, Beltane Fire Society's Chair said: 'Another year, another magical Beltane. As we roll into summer and carry the May Queen's message of renewal with us, a huge thank you to the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of witnesses who made it all happen.' READ MORE: The modern Beltane Fire Festival has been running since 1988 and is the spring and summer counterpart to Samhuinn Fire Festival, which is held at Holyrood Park on 31 October. Performers don exotic costumes (Image: PA/Jane Barlow) The events are immersive experiences, which involve modern re-imaginings of ancient Celtic festivals to mark the start of summer and the onset of winter. The Beltane Fire Society is a charity run by volunteers, dedicated to marking the fire festivals of the ancient Celtic calendar and keeping traditional Scottish skills of street theatre, music and pageantry alive.
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Scotsman
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Beltane Fire Festival 2025: 19 spectacular pictures of Edinburgh's Calton Hill lit up by fire
Edinburgh's Beltane Fire Festival lit up Edinburgh's Calton Hill last night (Wednesday, April 30), with hundreds of performers taking part. The Beltane Fire Festival took place at Edinburgh's Calton Hill on Wednesday, April 30. | PA The annual event is inspired by a tradtional ancient Gaelic festival which began on the evening before May 1 and marked the beginning of summer. The festival takes place at Calton Hill , with a propcession starting at the National Monument, spiralling anti-clockwise around the path. It's led by the May Queen and the Green Man, followed by a cavalcade of characters who are intrinsically linked to them and their journey. Their destination is punctuated by various groups who either help or hinder their progress towards the Green Man's fate and the May Queen's destiny. After a dramatic stage performance signifying the inception of summer the May Queen and Green Man spark the birth of summer by lighting a huge bonfire. Here are 19 pictures of this year's event. 1 . Finishing touches Making sure that makeup is just right. | PA Photo Sales 4 . Arms up The event takes place at Calton Hill every year. | PA Photo Sales Related topics: EdinburghFirePerformers
Edinburgh Reporter
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Beltane 2025
Around 7,000 people celebrated Beltane on Wednesday night after dark on Calton Hill. Everyone was immersing themselves in a 'vivid, elemental journey of fire, rhythm, and transformation'. The night was filled with drumming, hundreds of performers and plenty of fire – illuminating the hill with a fierce and joyful energy. An unseasonably hot day with the clearest of skies made Beltane night a night to remember! Jenny Bloom, Beltane Fire Society's Chair said: 'Another year, another magical Beltane. As we roll into summer and carry the May Queen's message of renewal with us, a huge thank you to the hundreds of volunteers and thousands of witnesses who made it all happen. What a night! See you at Samhuinn!' 'The modern Beltane Fire Festival has been running since 1988 and is the spring and summer counterpart to Samhuinn Fire Festival, which is held at Holyrood Park on 31 October. The events are immersive experiences, which involve modern re-imaginings of ancient celtic festivals to mark the turning seasons. The Beltane Fire Society is a charity run by volunteers, dedicated to marking the fire festivals of the ancient celtic calendar and keeping traditional Scottish skills of street theatre, music and pageantry alive. Sébastien Lemaire Sébastien Lemaire Ross Cameron Ross Cameron Lanta (Anastasia Fraerman) Izzy Henry Like this: Like Related
