Beltane
Beltane 2012 – the 25th Anniversary.
Celebrate the start of the summer and the 25th Beltane Fire Festival on Monday 30th April 2012 on Calton Hill in Edinburgh!
Witness this spectacular revival of the ancient Celtic fertility festival in the heart of the Scottish capital. Justifiably famous for its intensity and colour, the event has become a much-loved feature of the Edinburgh calendar since it was first organised in the mid-1980′s.
Tickets are now available from £5.00 (plusbooking fee)
Get Them From; the Hub, Ripping Records and Ticket Scotland – or online at Hub Tickets (http://qr NULL.net/bfs_hub).
About Beltane
Edinburgh’s Beltane festival traditionally takes place on the 30th of April every year on Calton Hill.
Edinburgh’s Beltane festival originates in the Scottish and Irish Gaelic pre-Christian festival of the same name.
The name itself is thought to have derived from a Gaelic-Celtic word meaning ‘bright/sacred fire’. It was held to mark and celebrate the blossoming of spring, and coincided with the ancient pastoral event of moving livestock to their summer grazing. It did not occur on any fixed solar date (the tradition of solstices and equinoxes is later in origin) but tended to be held on the first full moon after the modern 1st of May. Some sources suggest that the blooming of the Hawthorn was the primary signal for the event before the development of centralised calendars.
It was a celebration of the fertility of the land and their animals. The main traditional element which was common to all Beltane festivals was the fire which gave it its name. All the fires of the community would be extinguished and a new, sacred ‘Need Fire’ was lit by either the village head or spiritual leader. From this source one or two bonfires were lit, and the animals of the community would be driven through or between them. It was believed that the smoke and flame of the fires would purify the herd, protecting them in the year to come and ensuring a good number of offspring. The inhabitants of the village would then take pieces of the fire to their homes and relight their hearths, and dance clockwise around the bonfires to ensure good portents for them and their families.
Tickets
Advance tickets for on the hill are on sale priced from £5 (plus Booking Fee).
Tickets can be bought from:
The Hub Ticket Office
Castlehill
Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 2NE
+44(0)131 473 2000
Can I get more Tickets on the night ?
A limited number of tickets will be available on the night. These tickets will cost £8.00 and will only be available from Calton Hill’s Carriage Drive entrance, on Regent Road. We have sold out in previous years so strongly recommend advance booking!
Times
Gates open at 8Pm and the first things will start to happen at 8.30pm.
8.30pm – Parliament Light – A percussive delicacy from Waa Sylla
8.45pm – 9.15pm – ‘the Path of Winter’ – Watch several performance groups in their winter states (all over the hill)
9.15 – 9.30pm – The Crone Cocoons – the dying embodiment of winter cocoons and transforms into The May Queen!
9.30pm – 9.45pm – THE NEID FIRE is lit – the Acropolis is brought to life with fire and the May Queen is Born!
9.45pm – midnight – The Procession – in order to persuade the Horned God to cast off winter and embrace summer – the May Queen and her court take the Green Man on a merry dance into the spirit world. They take with them the light from the Neid Fire and the May Queen corrals the Elements (Fire, Water, Earth, Air & Aether) as they transform the world into Summer. The Horned God casts off winter and transforms into an adventurous Fool, tempted by Fire and Lust. He dies and is given the gift of new life by the May Queen.
Midnight – The Bonfire Is lit – Summer is here and the Party is Getting Started.
The White Women (The May Queens personal court) anf the Red Men (renowned for their energy) dance at the bower as the spectacular Beltane Fire Festival draws to a close.
Getting There
We are located in the City Centre of Edinburgh and recommend using public transport to get to Calton Hill.
Google Maps (http://maps NULL.google NULL.co NULL.uk/maps/ms?msid=203960282012041601095 NULL.0004ba42128f1836fab70&msa=0&ll=55 NULL.955735,-3 NULL.181486&spn=0 NULL.016265,0 NULL.04077)
For public safety reasons, the road to Calton Hill and surrounding roads will be closed – it is recommended that you don’t try to park on the streets surrounding the hill. There are several public car parks within walking distance – see Local Parking (http://www NULL.google NULL.co NULL.uk/maps?f=l&hl=en&q=car+parks&near=calton+hill&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=55 NULL.954534,-3 NULL.184276&spn=0 NULL.018404,0 NULL.079222&om=1) for more information.
How do I make arrangements for Disabled access ?
We will endeavour to facilitate disabled access. For public safety reasons vehicle movement on Calton Hill is highly restricted. Please email access@beltane.org to make arrangements.
Where can I stay ?
Edinburgh is full of hotels, B&B’s, youth hostels, etc.
To find out about accommodation Visit Scotland is a good place to start.
http://www.visitscotland.com/ (http://replay NULL.waybackmachine NULL.org/20080501151536/http://www NULL.visitscotland NULL.com/)
+44 (0) 845 2255121
On-site Facilities
During the festival there are toilets, first aid and missing persons areas, and a catering van selling fast food and soft drinks.
What if someone gets hurt ?
There is first aid, counselling, missing persons, and an ambulance area located next to the observatory building. Thankfully these have not been busy of late.
Can I bring a drink ?
Yes, save some to toast the summer in with us. Please be a bit sensible about it though, and don’t bring glass, or too much alcohol onto the hill. – the security team will refuse access to anyone who is drunk – or is carrying enough alcohol to sink a ship!
Can I bring children ?
We allow children to attend the event provided they are accompanied by a responsible adult. Please be aware that:
- The festival takes place on poorly lit hill top.
- The crowd though good natured is often tightly packed and rowdy.
- There is some nudity and uninhibited behaviour.
- Access to under 5s is at the discretion of the Admissions team
Can I bring pets ?
No. They can be easily frightened and disorientated by the number of people and scale of the event, and it is in everyone’s interest that they remain at home.
What should I bring ?
- Warm Clothes
- Sensible Footwear
- Food and warm drinks
- Your friends
- A Bag for your litter!
What shouldn’t I bring ?
- Pets
- Wood, paraffin, wax torches or combustibles
- Drums or loud instruments
- Glass bottles
- Anything you don’t want to take away at the end of the night (Beltane Fire Society pays for the cost of cleaning the hill the next day).
Why do I have to pay to celebrate in a public space ?
Beltane costs £40,000 to put on. This excludes an estimated £15,000 that performers spend on rehearsals, props, and costumes. Additionally, an estimated 10,000 voluntary man hours are put into rehearsing, and making props and costumes.
The only way we can afford to hold the event is to sell tickets. By buying a ticket, not only are you helping us to meet the costs, but you demonstrate that Beltane has worth to you.
Why do I have to leave the hill by 1:00 am ?
We are only allowed to hold Beltane on Calton Hill if it finishes at an agreed time. If people try to stay on the hill for longer we will not be able to carry on holding the festival on Calton Hill.
Why are there so many HI-VIS jackets at a hippy festival ?
Holding an event for 12,000 people, the safety of people at that event is extremely important. Our stewards play an important pubic safety role, as well as protecting the hill and monuments from damage. They are also approachable and can let you know what’s happening.