Edinburgh’s Beltane Fire Festival lit up Edinburgh’s Calton Hill last night (Tuesday, April 30), will hundreds of performers taking part.
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 and spirals 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 13 pictures of this year’s event.
The festival takes place at Calton Hill, with a propcession starting at the National Monument and spirals anti-clockwise around the path.
![Historically the celebration was widely observed across Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/8/05/GettyImages-2150418896%20%282%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Lit up
Historically the celebration was widely observed across Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. | AFP via Getty Images
![Rituals are performed to protect cattle, people and crops, and to encourage growth.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/8/08/GettyImages-2150418870%20%281%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Here comes the summer
Rituals are performed to protect cattle, people and crops, and to encourage growth. | AFP via Getty Images
![Traditionally special bonfires are kindled, whose flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective powers.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/8/38/GettyImages-2150418933%20%281%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
7. Ritual
Traditionally special bonfires are kindled, whose flames, smoke and ashes were deemed to have protective powers. | AFP via Getty Images
![The people and their cattle would walk around or between bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames or embers.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/01/8/29/GettyImages-2150419076%20%281%29.jpg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
8. Acrobatics
The people and their cattle would walk around or between bonfires, and sometimes leap over the flames or embers. | AFP via Getty Images