In pictures: The Samhuinn Fire Festival
The Samhuinn Fire Festival is a modern reimagining of a Celtic celebration
- Published
Thousands of people have gathered in Edinburgh’s Holyrood Park to celebrate the ancient fire festival Samhuinn.
The annual Celtic tradition marks the battle between the kings of summer and winter.
Painted performers, acrobats and drummers retell the story of the turning wheel as the seasons change.
The event was revived in 1988, a counterpart to the Beltane Fire Festival in the spring.
About 5,000 people attended the Samhuinn Fire Festival
The festival is inspired by the Celtic tales of the turning of the wheel
The story of the festival depicts a battle between the Summer and Winter kings
The battle is watched by the Cailleach, a Celtic goddess who decides the kings' fates
At the end, Cailleach ushers in the looming, colder months
It also shows the transition that many aspects of life embark on when seasons change
The modern festival started in 1995 and has grown in popularity every year
Usually performed on Calton Hill in Edinburgh, the festival was moved to Holyrood Park for the first time
It is the sister event of the Beltane Fire Festival which is held on 30 April