Thousands of revellers lit up the night sky above Scotland’s capital to celebrate the start of spring Pagan-style.  

A huge crowd came together on Edinburgh’s Calton Hill to mark the end of the colder seasons and welcome the beginning of the warmer months with Beltane Fire Festival.  

More than eight thousand people made the pilgrimage to this year’s festival, which has become a long-standing Edinburgh cultural staple since it began in 1988.  

They were treated to acrobatic displays, music and drumming under the light of burning torches as the festivities, led by the May Queen and her court, lit Calton Hill with a spectacular fire show.  

The Herald: A celebrant gets ready for the festivities A celebrant gets ready for the festivities (Image: Getty/AFP)

Modern takes on the ancient Celtic festivals have been growing in popularity in the UK - with Edinburgh’s Beltane night just one of several taking place around the country.  

The Beltane Fire Festival is the spring and summer counterpart to Samhuinn Fire Festival, which is held at Holyrood Park on 31 October.  


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The events are immersive experiences, which involve re-imaginings of ancient Celtic festivals which marked the turning of the seasons. 

The Herald: Drummers at the festival Drummers at the festival (Image: Ross Cameron/BFF)

Sammi Searle, Beltane Fire Society’s Chair said: “It’s been an incredible honour to once again return to Calton Hill to light the fires of Beltane and mark the arrival of summer.  

“We are so grateful to all of our creative volunteers and collaborators who have given so much of their time, skill and love to bringing this event together.  

“The Beltane Fire Festival is a living, breathing entity that brings together both the community and the landscape in this modern world, and this year’s celebration has been focused on acknowledging the climate crisis and how it has already impacted seasonal cycles and natural rhythms.” 

The Herald: The festival is a modern take on Celtic mythology The festival is a modern take on Celtic mythology (Image: Siri Juulia Pantzar)

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. 

Ms Searle added: “Last night’s festival was an invitation to imagine how we can come together as a community to realign those cycles and step into the future with unity and positivity.  

“Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who came to celebrate with us and we hope everyone can carry this seed of optimism with them into the summer months. Happy Beltane!"