top of page
Writer's pictureJenna Cockburn

REVIEW: Beltane Fire Festival 2023 | Calton Hill, Edinburgh


"Otherworldly, beguiling, immersive."

As a presence of the big bright ball in the sky becomes ever present and we bask in the warmth of its glory, it's fair to say Summer has finally arrived.


Last night, I witnessed an ancient Iron Age Celtic ritual showcasing the birth of Summer with glowing bright fires, the pounding of drums, a cavalcade of characters like the May Queen and the red men, all at the top of Calton Hill to bring about the end of long nights.


A few words to describe Beltane Fire Festival: otherworldly, beguiling, immersive.


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL

Their festival is a living, dynamic reinterpretation and modernisation of an ancient Iron Age Celtic ritual and is the largest of its kind. Having been resurrected as a practice in 1988 it has become a central focus for our community, bringing many many people together to acknowledge and revel in the birth of the Summer and the fertility of the land.


Beltane Fire Society is a not-for-profit registered charity in Scotland. Charity Number SC040137. Company Number SC341753.

bottom of page