Edinburgh 2009

In the beginning there is only darkness. In the dark the

people gather. The gathering brings forth an energy and

from that energy a light is created. The light is passed

from one torch to the next until those that are gathered

are framed within the light. Within the frame a

procession has formed. The procession is Summer,

which has gathered for a party, and though it is old it

still has life enough to bring dance and laughter to

those who see it.

The Procession moves along the Royal mile to the sounds of drums and music. The regalia of the royal Summer Court is on

display. The Summer Dancers twirl to their music whilst the Redmen jump in jocularity to the own special rhythm. A cold snap

hits the procession and jolts the Green Man. He looses sight of his consort, the shrouded Cailleach, and at that moment his alter

ego, the Horned God, an ever present shadow, becomes scentient. He will follow him inexorably to their destination . The

procession, unaware of the event continue to dance and play. They have a party to attend to and nothing will get in their way.

The Procession moves along the Royal mile to the sounds of drums and music. The regalia of the royal Summer Court is on

display. The Summer Dancers twirl to their music whilst the Redmen jump in jocularity to the own special rhythm. A cold snap

hits the procession and jolts the Green Man. He looses sight of his consort, the shrouded Cailleach, and at that moment his alter

ego, the Horned God, an ever present shadow, becomes scentient. He will follow him inexorably to their destination . The

procession, unaware of the event continue to dance and play. They have a party to attend to and nothing will get in their way.

Summer perform for the Green Man. He is entertained through fire,

dance acrobatics and music. Their party is in full swing and they pay

little heed to anything else.

Meanwhile, the forces of winter gather. The Horned God’s

embodiment is complete and he calls his court and warriors together.

His aim is to usurp the Green Man and take the throne as his own.

Back at the court of Summer the activities become more extravagant.

The pleasant Summer Musicians and Dancers are replaced by the

more eclectic acrobatics of the Red Men and the primal drumming of

the Beasties. A crescendo rises as the approach of winter commences.

Summer perform for the Green Man. He is entertained through fire,

dance acrobatics and music. Their party is in full swing and they pay

little heed to anything else.

Meanwhile, the forces of winter gather. The Horned God’s

embodiment is complete and he calls his court and warriors together.

His aim is to usurp the Green Man and take the throne as his own.

Back at the court of Summer the activities become more extravagant.

The pleasant Summer Musicians and Dancers are replaced by the

more eclectic acrobatics of the Red Men and the primal drumming of

the Beasties. A crescendo rises as the approach of winter commences.

Winter, under the beat of their drummers, move to attack Summer. Their first attack is

repelled but a weakened Summer Shield can not withstand another onslaught from the

determined forces of the Winter Court.

As the drums get louder, driving back the Beasties, the Valravyn guide the Wild Hunt to

their prey. The Red Men are decimated and the Summer Court cowers before the Hunt’s

wrath. They feel the approach of the Horned God and, as the Summer Shield finally fall

the approach of the Horned God is complete. He sees the debaucherous Green Man, a

figure he despises, and calls for combat.

The Green Man rises to defend his throne. He will not give up his power easily.

Winter, under the beat of their drummers, move to attack Summer. Their first attack is

repelled but a weakened Summer Shield can not withstand another onslaught from the

determined forces of the Winter Court.

As the drums get louder, driving back the Beasties, the Valravyn guide the Wild Hunt to

their prey. The Red Men are decimated and the Summer Court cowers before the Hunt’s

wrath. They feel the approach of the Horned God and, as the Summer Shield finally fall

the approach of the Horned God is complete. He sees the debaucherous Green Man, a

figure he despises, and calls for combat.

The Green Man rises to defend his throne. He will not give up his power easily.

T h e e p i c b a t t l e

commences. The two

Gods attack with all the

strength they can

muster. The fight is hard

as they are equally

matched. They are, after

all, a split personality of

the same being. It begins

with a stand off. Testing

each others will they move to flaming swords. There is no quarter given and they attack with all that they have. The ascending

power of the Horned God begins to overcome the decline of the Green Man. Staffs are brought into the fight and eventually the

Green man is overcome. The Energy and rage within the Horned God is too much for him to bear. As a final humiliation the

Horned God sets fire to the Green Man, leaving him lifeless at his feet. The Victory is short live however, as the Cailleach, having

witnessed the awful spectacle, is enraged. She moves towards the Horned God and reveals what real power is.

T h e e p i c b a t t l e

commences. The two

Gods attack with all the

strength they can

muster. The fight is hard

as they are equally

matched. They are, after

all, a split personality of

the same being. It begins

with a stand off. Testing

each others will they move to flaming swords. There is no quarter given and they attack with all that they have. The ascending

power of the Horned God begins to overcome the decline of the Green Man. Staffs are brought into the fight and eventually the

Green man is overcome. The Energy and rage within the Horned God is too much for him to bear. As a final humiliation the

Horned God sets fire to the Green Man, leaving him lifeless at his feet. The Victory is short live however, as the Cailleach, having

witnessed the awful spectacle, is enraged. She moves towards the Horned God and reveals what real power is.

The Cailleach dances and writhes. She is emerging.

With her is the full force of winter. As she contorts

her frightening power grows until eventually she

throws off her shroud. She snarls and glowers at

the Horned God, chastising him for his insolence.

He now recognises his role and mourns the loss of

the Green Man but all is not gone. The Cailleach,

knowing that the cycle must continue, passes on

life to the Green man ensuring that there will be a

summer again. She then turns to the Horned God,

conferring to him the right to rule. She becomes his

consort now and together they embrace, their union

ensuring that the cycle of the seasons continues its

aeonic rhythm.

The Samhuinn Festival serves the seasonally opposite role to Beltane. It was

the Celtic New Year, although its practice far precedes the Celtic culture. It

marked the end of summer and the time to bring herds in from summer pas-

tures to lowland fields and enclosures for protection. With the signs of ap-

proaching winter, it is understandable that the festival should have a strong

association with death. The trees are bare and the land barren of the earlier

vegetation - nature itself seems to be dying.

Thus it was believed that this was the night of the dead - a time for the spir-

its of the departed from the previous year to pay one last visit to their relatives

before departing for the other-world forever. Also taking advantage of this

closeness between the land of the living and the dead were the mischievous

and malevolent spirits of the underworld, and measures had to be taken to

protect against their pranks. Thus evolved the tradition of modern Hallowe’en

to wear masks - originally to disguise oneself against the unwanted attentions

of spirits and faeries.

Another Samhuinn tradition was a market fair held in the nearest trading cen-

tre. This was a chance to settle business, to trade livestock and produce of the

autumn and to revel with friends for one last time before the winter conditions

made travel too difficult. Amongst the entertainments were the Goloshan

Plays. The main theme of these ancient narratives was the battle between light

and dark, summer and winter. The two characters fight to the death, winter

overcoming summer as inevitably as the seasons, but the medicine-man steps

in to revive the summer figure, thus ensuring the return of spring and light.

For more information on the Festivals that The Beltane Fire Society celebrate,

including Beltane and Samhuinn, or if you would like to get involved in the

organisation then visit

www.beltane.org

Pictures provided by Photopoint (Ania, Nuria, Graham, Ashish, Matt, Neil

and Dan)

Words by Dan, except the Samhuinn description on this page, courtesy of BFS