A Little Bit of Culture

Beltane Fire Festival

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None of the pics came out well, but this is a flaming battering ram slamming into a burning wall.

So this is the May Queen. Her passing symbolizes the end of Spring and the beginning of summer. The blue guy is one of three guiding her through time.

These are the Red Men, who try to bring out debauchery and mischief in all. They were naked, covered in red paint, and of course, surrounded by fire. The climax of this pagan reenactment was an incredible sight: A 25 ft human pyramid, stacked vertically three high. Just as the last Red was climbing to the top, the sky opened and poured down a cold stinging rain upon the 8,000 spectators. The Red slipped down just as she was about to make the ultimate step to the top. The crowd roared as she attempted it again, thrusting her arms out in triumph at the top; the edinburgh skyline twinkling on the horizon, the monuments of Calton Hill presiding.


Edan
Thanks to Barri Razzaki for these pics