Scottish fact of the day: Burry Man

The Burry Man is the name given to the character central to South Queensferry’s Burryman Parade.

Covered from head to foot in a bristly suit made of burdock plant burrs, a local man walks through the town and is offered whisky and money by the residents in the hope of bringing good luck to the area.

Each August the Burry Man is dressed for the occasion and helped through the town on his gruelling 8-hour journey by his attendants.

The nature of the suit means he must walk uncomfortably and hold his arms out throughout his seven-mile slow walk.

On his trip, he will visit a number of places throughout the town, with his arms holding decorative flowers for the duration. Forbidden to talk, the Burry Man must drink any whisky offered to him through a straw, since his face is covered by the plant heads.

The tradition is thought to have begun in the Seventeenth century, although some believe it could be older and the exact meaning has been lost through the ages.

Burry Man’s walk is also associated with the annual Ferry Fair.