Beltane Fire Festival 2011, Calton Hill, EdinburghThe Beltane Fire Festival is an annual celebration of the arrival of summer based on pagan rituals. It takes place during the night between 30th April and 1st May. In this fiery and rhythmic event, the May Queen kills Winter and revives him as Summer, who then is reunited with her in a kiss. Hordes of fertility demons celebrate the marriage with fire, drums and dance. Looking out of the window, I have to say the Scottish weather does not seem to be overly impressed by this spirited invocation of summer - nonetheless a great spectacle! For more information see: http://beltane.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane_Fire_Festival
