Tickets went on sale today for Edinburgh’s Samhuinn Fire Festival, which takes place on Calton Hill for the second time ever this October. Following the success of 2018’s sell out event, 7000 will be made available for the Celtic New Year celebration, making it the same size as its flagship event Beltane Fire Festival.
On the night of Halloween, hundreds of volunteers mark the change of the seasons by resurrecting Celtic traditions for a modern audience. The festival tells the story of the Winter King and the Summer King, who enter a ritual struggle with the help of their otherworldly followers, before the mysterious goddess the Cailleach emerges and decides both their fates. The audience wanders through the immersive battle, which is brought to life with fire, drumming, acrobatics and theatre all over Calton Hill.
The festival passes down some ritual practices from ancient Samhuinn celebrations, including the lighting of the sacred Neid fire. Neid fire was believed to be purifying in old Celtic communities, and on the night of Samhuinn was used to relight the hearth in each home. All the fire at Samhuinn Fire Festival is also lit from one single flame, which this year will symbolise community and togetherness as we turn towards an uncertain Winter.
In keeping with its sister event Beltane Fire Festival, which this year highlighted sustainability as a theme in its performance, 5% of the cost of each ticket to Samhuinn Fire Festival will be donated to an environmental charity.
After a sellout Samhuinn Fire Festival last year – which took place on Calton Hill for the first with an audience of 4,000 – the festival’s organisers are urging attendees to book tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are available to buy online from Citizen Ticket.
Brad Mcarthur, Beltane Fire Society’s chair said:
We are very excited to once again bring Samhuinn Fire Festival to our spiritual home on Calton Hill for this year’s celebrations. As the popularity of our Winter festival has grown over the years, building from our experiences last year we are increasing the capacity to ensure as many people as possible get to experience such a special night.
The Beltane Fire Society is a charity run by volunteers, dedicated to marking the fire festivals of the ancient celtic calendar and keeping traditional Scottish skills of street theatre, music and pageantry alive.