History

The Beltane Fire Society was formed in 1988 by Angus Farquhar, whose idea was to re-invent the Beltane celebrations in a modern form and re-instate them as an annual event in the cultural life of Edinburgh. Angus enlisted the help of his band, Test Department, and friends, including two dancers/performance artists, Lindsay John and Liz Ranken. Liz, with an interest in the use of ritual in performance, was to be the May Queen. Lindsay, a native of St Lucia who has spent time in Trinidad, designed and built most of the costumes for the Beltane performance and determined, with Liz, the roles of the participants and the general choreography.

The central character was of course the May Queen herself, attended by four handmaidens and a group of White Warrior Women. Her consort and spiritual guide was the Blue Man (Lindsay himself) and his counterpart, the Green Man. Also in attendance were the agents of mischief and misrule, the Red Men and the Beltane drummers.

It now takes place on the 30th April each year on top of Calton Hill in the centre of the city of Edinburgh.

From its conception in 1988, Beltane has certainly snowballed. A core group of the Beltane Fire Society has formed on the basis that involvement with the Beltane is dependent on participation in previous years. This allows for new ideas to emerge without the structure altering radically.

Over the last ten years, more and more local people have become involved with the evolving Beltane. A deeper understanding of Beltane began in 1995 when Beltane Fire Society members began finding out more about the meanings, symbolism and origins of the festival. The Society has also been strengthened by the benefits of powerful, fiery performance as something that not only attracts and holds a community of performers together, but also helps keep the crowds in check more effectively than delicate wee dances or wimpy rituals.

 

Beltane

Samhuinn

Imbolc