Beltane Edinburgh 2015

Beltane Edinburgh 2015, April 30th, Calton Hill, celebration, fire, dancing, painted, performance

On Beltane eve the Celts would build two large fires, Bel Fires, lit from the nine sacred woods. The Bel Fire is an invocation to Bel (Sun God) to bring His blessings and protection to the tribe. The herds were ritually driven between two needfires (fein cigin), built on a knoll. The herds were driven through to purify, bring luck and protect them as well as to insure their fertility before they were taken to summer grazing lands. An old Gaelic adage: “Eadar da theine Bhealltuinn” – “Between two Beltane fires”.

The Bel fire is a sacred fire with healing and purifying powers. The fires further celebrate the return of life, fruitfulness to the earth and the burning away of winter. The ashes of the Beltane fires were smudged on faces and scattered in the fields. Household fires would be extinguished and re-lit with fresh fire from the Bel Fires.

Celebration includes frolicking throughout the countryside, maypole dancing, leaping over fires to ensure fertility, circling the fire three times (sun-wise) for good luck in the coming year, athletic tournaments feasting, music, drinking, children collecting the May: gathering flowers. children gathering flowers, hobby horses, May birching and folks go a maying”. Flowers, flower wreaths and garlands are typical decorations for this holiday, as well as ribbons and streamers. Flowers are a crucial symbol of Beltane, they signal the victory of Summer over Winter and the blossoming of sensuality in all of nature and the bounty it will bring.

 

Beltane, Edinburgh 2015, April 30th, Calton Hill, celebration, fire, dancing, painted, performance

blessed white queen uninhibited dance 2015, abpove 15.3m

green man and white queen uninhibited dancing edinburgh

sun god and may queen dancing 2015, above 12.3m

annual fertility folklore edinburgh 2015, above 4.3m

annual fertility folklore uninhibited fire dancing

uninhibited fire dancing love faeries 2015, above 3.6m

edinburgh beltane uninhibited dancing performance

jack in the green edinburgh beltane video

nude dancing 2015 spiritual performance, above 4m

nude edinburgh spiritual performance, above 24.6m

edinburgh topless procession 2015

edinburgh topless procession

edinburgh topless warning, above 17m

edinburgh topless fire warning, aboe 9.6m

edinburgh nudity warning, above 15m

edinburgh dancing nudity warning, above 10.8m

2015 calton hill nudity warning, above 16.9m

2015 painted flame dancing nudity warning

2015 painted flame dancing, above 116m

2015 painted fire dancing, above 25.9m

calton hill painted fire dancing

Beltane painted fire dancing

Beltane painted spiritual fire dancing

Edinburgh painted spiritual dancing

Edinburgh painted dancing

Edinburgh painted spiritual dancing fun, above 33m

Beltane painted spiritual dancing fun

Beltane, Edinburgh painted spiritual dancing fun

Beltane, Edinburgh face paint flames

Beltane, Edinburgh face paint fun

Beltane, Edinburgh topless,

Beltane, Edinburgh dancing performance

Beltane, Edinburgh 2015, dancing topless

Beltane, Edinburgh 2015, fire dancing nudity

Beltane, Edinburgh 2015, fire dancing performance

Beltane, Edinburgh 2015, Calton Hill dancing performance

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Beltane Edinburgh 2015