Ancient festival marks winter’s start ONE of Edinburgh’s best known landmarks was lit up for the annual Samhuinn fire festival which celebrates the start of winter.
Thousands gathered to watch yesterday’s performances which were held for the first time in 600 years on the capital’s Calton Hill having moved from the Royal Mile.
Performers re-tell ancient stories, including a ritual battle between the summer and winter kings.
T he or g a n i s er s , Beltane Fire Festival, are said to have found historical accounts of similar celebrations staged on the hill in the 1400s.
The festival, which saw 20 performance groups and almost 400 volunteers take part, is said to be the largest Samhuinn production in the Beltane Fire Society’s history.
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