The exuberant growth and lush abundance of a glorious spring and early summer have done their work: we are replete with energy, nurtured by warmth and heady with love for life itself.  The long indulgent days of summer aren’t over yet and this glorious season has an inertia all its own: there’s still time to frolic, time to gather and put away, time to chase and race and rut. 

And yet… the balance has now subtly, inexorably, tipped.  The sun has reached its peak and now begins a slow descent. The day will slowly begin to give way to the night, the warmth to cold, and Winter will inevitably take hold.  

She’s not here, not yet: another of her faces still Reigns.

But somewhere, in a dark and starlit dream, 

She stirs.

We are looking for our Cailleach for Samhuinn 2025 and we believe the stirrings of her presence may already be being felt and drawing you or someone you know to the role.  Whilst it might still seem early we have a few things for consideration this year which mean we’d like to have our Cailleach particularly, and our whole Court generally, in place earlier.

As Samhuinn returns to Calton Hill, we invite Her to step forward and reclaim it – to be fundamental in reimagining and shaping the festival we bring as She has shaped the rocks under our feet.  We want to give Her time to get the land under her feet and feel the lay of it before we rush headlong into preparations.

All hills are Her hills, let her reclaim this one.

As she stirs, she draws with her a pair of champions…

Our Kings, Queens, Monarchs of misrule and mirroring.  Summer and Winter, Holly and Oak, diametrically opposed forces or two faces of the same being. Ephemeral and ever changing stories that mimic the ages of the world as they tell their stories – friends to enemies, enemies to friends.  Tyrants banished or self-sacrifice willingly gifted.  Walking with, apart from or against each other. 

Summer and Winter personified, we also call on you to step forward – single or in pairs – and ready to call others to aid in your efforts!  We’d love our Kings to have a strong story or be willing to craft one with each other – flexibility and a willingness to pull the community around them in an effort to show their strengths – whether that’s in battle or ballroom or another arena entirely.

Step up, and plant your banners!

1. Key Dates
2. Practical Notes
3. Selection Process
4. Nominating a member of the community
5. Self-Nomination

Key Dates

You will notice these are a little earlier than usual – we are attempting to give more time to both applicants and the selection panel.

• Deadline for community nominations, Cailleach: 2nd July
• Deadline for self applications, Cailleach: 7th July
• Interviews, Cailleach: 19/20th July

• Deadline for community nominations, Kings: 24th July
• Deadline for self applications, Kings: 28th July
• Interviews, Kings: 2/3rd Aug

Practical Notes

We welcome applications from people of all genders, physical abilities, ages, races and socio-economic statuses: the potential to embody the role is the essential quality we seek. You do not have to fit an image or profile of previous role holders. Please do not let your availability limit you from applying; we understand that life happens and will endeavour to find an alternative interview time.

Court roles can be intense and deeply personal. It is customary for Court figures to gather a handful of dedicated helpers to assist with practicalities during the run-up to the event, such as costume-making and admin. They may also wish to invite a small entourage to perform with them on the night. In applying for the role you should carefully consider the availability of your support network before, during and after the festival.

As ever, we welcome joint applications for both Summer and Winter Kings, or solo applications for either role. We would, however, prefer for our Cailleach applicants to be solo.

Successful Court applicants should be available for the GO Weekend and ideally the Open Meeting – the dates for which will be set within the next week or two but can be expected to be around mid-to-late August to the first week of September on a weekend.  This post will be updated to reflect those dates once available.

Selection Process

The Board and Blues will form a panel, drawing up a shortlist of candidates for each role. Those shortlisted for will be invited to meet the panel for a brief interview. Our new Cailleach will be notified and will then join the Kings’ selection panel, assisting with the meetings for those shortlisted for the roles of Summer King and Winter King. The final decision on all roles will be announced to the membership soon after, allowing enough time for unsuccessful applicants to put together Group Organiser applications if they so wish.

Nominating a member of the community

Members of BFS may nominate a fellow member, or members, for any role. If you wish to nominate someone who you believe could really embody the role, please send their name to blues@beltane.org. We’d love a few words, if you feel moved, about why you’d think they would embody the role well. The member(s) will then be informed of the nomination, and invited to consider whether they wish to proceed in trying out for the role.

Self-Nomination

If you are feeling drawn to one of these roles, send an email to blues@beltane.org with the following information:

• your name
• contact details
• the role you wish to be considered for (Cailleach, Summer King, or Winter King)
• your general availability across the Samhuinn period (August – Mid November, the dates for interviews, GO weekend and Open Meeting)

Please also feel free include up to 500 words in support of your application, such as how you envision your chosen role, how you feel connected to them or any part of the performance, or any narrative ideas you may have OR you may send a video / voice note of no more than five minutes – this isn’t meant to be a ‘production’ but simply to allow for folk who struggle with the written word to access the process more easily.

If you have any questions, get in touch with blues@beltane.org.