Today is officially the first day of summer. It's ironically looking much more grey a dreary than yesterday, with forecasts of wind and frost over the bank holiday weekend. Bleh. Oh well, you've still gotta love the metaphorical significance.
Our ancestors did. They would light fires, dance excitedly, and beat drums to chase away the spirits of chaos and darkness which ruled their lives over the bitter winter months. In modern Scotland, these ancient rituals have been transformed into the Beltane Fire Festival held each year at the top of Calton Hill, in the centre of Edinburgh. It's a big draw for tourists nowadays, as the costumed and painted participants carry out their ancient rites on the same volcanic earth our ancestors did.
(Check out the dude getting burned in this photo, oucheeee. That's what happens when you choose to be a representative of Chaos)The White Ladies and the Blue Men, the Red Men and the Torchbearers, the Horned God of Winter and the Green Man all make an appearance. But it's the White Lady who always steals the show. She is the Queen of Summer (Mother Earth) and she leads the procession around the hill, through the burning gates, and finally vanquishes the demons.
Then, they set a bunch of stuff on fire, and everyone gets trolleyed.
Goodbye winter, hello summer!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/edinburghandeastscotland/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8655000/8655823.stm
