Beltane 2018, photo by Gordon Vetch
The Celtic festival of Beltane had been celebrated across Celtic lands since the Iron Age, up until the mid-20th century. In 1988 a group of enthusiasts that included Angus Farquhar (a member of an industrial band), Hamish Henderson (a poet), Margaret Bennett (a professor of Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh) and Lindsay John (a physical theatre practitioner) successfully resurrected the celebration.
But Beltane Fire Festival at Edinburgh's Calton Hill is not about recreating ancient practices. It's a vivid mix of fire, drums, elaborate costumes, body paint, theatre, dance and acrobatics evolving with its participants, all of whom are volunteers.
In short, the festival is a procession driven by drums and led by the May Queen, the goddess of summer, and the Green Man. The procession meets various groups along its way, those either help or hinder its progress. During the festivities, the Green Man has to die as the god of winter and be reborn as spring in order to consort with the May Queen. When they are united, they light the bonfire as a symbol of summer's beginning.
Beltane 2018, photo by Gordon Vetch
Beltane 2018, photo by Prem Shah
Beltane 2018, photo by Scott A. Winches
Beltane 2018, photo by Vince Graham
We've interviewed Erin Macdonald who is the chair of Beltane Fire Society (BFS) which organises the festival.
What was the atmosphere in which Beltane was created?
In the late 80s our event was born in response to stark political times, following the closures of the mining pits and protests against Thatcher’s clamp downs. Our founders wanted to create something that celebrated community, the natural world, and joy.
Did you expect it to last 30 years and counting?
I wasn’t around at the first Beltane, but I think our festival has always been about celebrating the here and now, and connecting with the present moment, rather than looking too far ahead. Now we're here at 30 years old, and it's hugely exciting - but we still want to keep that focus on the present, and the pursuit of joy and community celebration.
How have things developed over those 3 decades? How fast did you grow and when did you start introducing other Celtic festivals?
This first modern Beltane saw only five performers take to Calton Hill, watched by an audience of fifty to a hundred people. Within five years this had grown to several hundred performers and three thousand audience members, during which time the Society came into place to support the continuation of the festival. Now, thirty years on, 300 volunteers are involved each festival and audiences of 7,000 to 10,000 people join us to witness the event. Our challenge is working to keep the wild soul of our events while working to meet all the regulations and expectations placed on an event of the size it has become.
Beltane celebrates the turn of winter into summer, and we began a public celebration of its counterpart Samhuinn, (marking the shift from summer to winter) in 1995. It too has grown, and has become a huge public procession on 31 October each year through the streets of Edinburgh.
Beltane 2018, photo by Martin McCarthy
Beltane 2018, photo by Martin McCarthy
What is it that motivates the volunteers to participate in such high numbers? Is it the Celtic roots they are proud of? A connection with the nature? Passion for performance? What makes the people come together?
We all come together to create the festival for different reasons. For many it’s the chance to take part in a huge event as a volunteer, or to learn performance or production skills; for others the chance to be part of an ancient celebration and connect with nature and their own spirituality is the draw. But we all feel the deep connection and sense of community that being part of the Beltane Fire Society brings.
You even organise Family Beltane in a storytelling centre. What is the significance of the festivals and and the Beltane Fire Society for Edinburgh and its people?
Our festivals are modern reinterpretations of ancient Celtic festivals celebrating the turning of the seasons. They are rooted in ancient traditions that took place in Edinburgh for centuries, but we are also proud that they are modern, vibrant works of community art, created afresh by hundreds of volunteers each year. Beltane and Samhuinnn are important events in the event calendar of the city, and a great chance for local people to take part and learn new skills and make connections as volunteers, or to come along and celebrate. Each event is attended by between 6,000 and 10,000 people, with a great mix of locals and those from further afield.
Beltane 2018, photo by Asier Goikoetxea
What are your plans and hopes for the future?
We are at a bit of a turning point as a community and a festival. After our thirtieth year, we hope to spend some time taking stock and consolidating, talking with each other to think about where we go from here and what our priorities should be for our next thirty years. We have just taken up a long term lease at a new space combining our office and stores, which feels like a real step forward, and we have some challenges ahead to ensure our events can continue to take place in the heart of the city. We want to improve how we work with and support each other as volunteers and look at how we can better share the joy, history and artistic skills of our festivals with others. There’s a lot to do, but we’re very excited to get stuck in.