Beltane: All you need to know guide

As I am writing this, I am preparing for the 2025 Beltane fire festival in Edinburgh and the skies are bright blue and clear and I am looking forward to experiencing yet another year.

I will be showcasing some photography and videos over on my social media if you are interested over on @travelkattours

What is Beltane?
It is an ancient iron age Celtic ritual that celebrates the welcome arrival of summer. It is traditionally celebrated on the evening before May 1st.

It is purposefully around this time as it is halfway between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. 

The term “beltane” derives from Gaelic, which translates as “bright fire” and is widely celebrated in Scotland, Ireland and on the Isle of Man. The meaning behind the use of fire is that the heat and fire are seen as a purifier and the bonfire smoke and ashes are believed to have protective powers. 

Historical Significance

Traditionally, farmers would have taken their cattles in between the bonfires to cleanse and protect them before they were moved to the fields. This custom derived from the Druids and over time it was eventually “christianised” as a protection from evil in God’s name. 

In some cases, shepherds would cut out a circular trench and light a fire of sacred wood. They would then mix a blend of eggs, butter, milk and oatmeal and deliberately spill some of the mixture on the ground to ensure the safety of their flock of sheep in the coming season and to pacify the ancient gods.  The oatmeal mixture would be eaten alongside beer and of course, whisky. 

Beltane Today

The official Beltane fire festival was resurrected in the 1980’s and has become very popular over the years. The Beltane society is entirely run via donations and has become one of the largest celtic festivals in the world. 

In Edinburgh, now held on top of Calton Hill the procession starts on Edinburgh’s National Monument (the Acropolis looking building) and that is where the head of the procession, the May Queen will be there, alongside the Green Man. At the top of the monument they will light the first fire (bonfire) which will spark the birth of summer. The premise on the ground below is that the various groups will either help or hinder their progress towards the Green man’s fate and the May Queen’s destiny.

The May Queen embodies the urgent need to reconnect with nature, to take back wild spaces and to honour and respect the earth around us. Her costume reflects the delicate and fragile environment around us. She encourages us to be caretakers of the land and to plant seeds and to nurture the land around us.

Whereas, The Green Man emerges from an ancient oak, weathered but wise. He stands in the landscape that has been altered by time and by humans. His struggle nowadays is against ecological challenges and the belief is - it is not too late to change our ways.

The festival will retell the ancient traditional stories of the May Queen and the death and rebirth of The Green Man. The parade will then be followed by dancers, music and beautifully crafted costumes and decorations. 

The Drummers

Following the parade will be the processional drummers, who will provide a rhythmic beat to the festival. They will begin drumming up on the monument and will beat their drum as the fire lights up the night. The idea is, the drums will awaken the surrounding wildlife and wake the soil from the winters sleep.

Throughout the night, the hill will become alive with music and it is such a great atmosphere.

Practical information about Beltane, Edinburgh

Tickets can be bought directly from beltane.org and they do offer early bird tickets, so get in quick at the beginning of the year. 

Some practical things to note:

The festival is 100% outdoors, so be prepared for the ever changing Scottish weather, and I would wear sturdy shoes. Calton hill can have some muddy areas. 

Because it is on Calton Hill (a public park area) there is very little seating, so bear that in mind if you are spending time there.

I would also suggest bringing some form of torch, so you can guide your way safely, or make sure you have phone battery to use the torch.

The event is secured by barriers and there will be security bag checks prior to entry, for that reason no large bags or suitcases are permitted. 

Drones are also not allowed, photography however is allowed. 

You can find a range of food stalls on the hill, but you can also bring your own food along. However, please note that no glass is permitted. So leave the bottle of wine at home. 

Toilets: there are a range of portaloos located on the hill, and there is a stewarded wheelchair accessible portaloo on the flat paved tarmac area of the hill. 

You can download the program and map on their website here.

Thanks for reading and I hope I have inspired you to visit Beltane next year.

All photographs are my own work, if you want to use them please email at travelkattours@gmail.com for permission.