Time to get the warm jumper off and celebrate Beltane again, so a late night, roaring bonfires, plenty of mead and lots of semi naked people covered in paint ahead for me!! Beltane is the anglicized spelling of Bealtaine or Bealltainn the Gaelic names for either the month of May or the festival that takes place on the first day of May.In Irish Gaelic the month of May is known as Mí Bealtaine or Bealtaine and the festival as Lá Bealtaine ('day of Bealtaine' or, May Day'). In Scottish Gaelic the month is known as either (An) Cèitean or a' Mhàigh, and the festival is known as Latha Bealltainn or simply Bealltainn. The feast was also known as Céad Shamhain or Cétshamhainin from which the word Céitean derives.As an ancient Gaelic festival, Bealtaine was celebrated in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. There were similar festivals held at the same time in the other Celtic countries of Wales, Brittany and Cornwall. Bealtaine and Samhain were the leading terminal dates of the civil year in Ireland though the latter festival was the most important. The festival survives in folkloric practices in the Celtic Nations and the Irish diaspora, and has experienced a degree of revival in recent decades.For the Celts, Beltane marked the beginning of the pastoral summer season when the herds of livestock were driven out to the summer pastures and mountain grazing lands. Due to the change from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, Bealltainn in Scotland was commonly celebrated on May 15 while in Ireland Sean Bhealtain / "Old May" began about the night of May 11.The lighting of bonfires on Oidhche Bhealtaine ('the eve of Bealtaine') on mountains and hills of ritual and political significance was one of the main activities of the festival. In modern Scottish Gaelic, Latha Buidhe Bealtuinn ('the yellow day of Bealltain') is used to describe the first day of May. This term Lá Buidhe Bealtaine is also used in Irish and is translated as 'Bright May Day'. In Ireland it is referred to in a common folk tale as Luan Lae Bealtaine; the first day of the week (Monday/Luan) is added to emphasise the first day of summer. all pics from Beltane 2008, Calton Hill, Edinburgh with kind thanks to the Beltane Fire Society

thanks for posting beautiful festival.. They are very nice and interesting show. I have never seen something like this before. What a beautiful show !

have fun D

you do some weird things man, we got to hang out more

You go ahead and celebrate mate. I'll stay at home and watch TV.

Watch out for the thistles whilst you are dancing around semi naked.

Watch out for witches!

And I thought I'm the only person who needs some tan ... ( Nice pics )

@ barbie + shorty - ty

@ digitalcat - this is comparitively normal for me ; )

@ funky - mate, watch out for those pressure sores from not moving off your sofa!!! I stay well wrapped up!! And no thistles up the hill!!

@ Jason - am counting on seeing some - they usually have mushroom mead for sale!!!

@ posh - trust me, we Scots have to turn from pale blue to white before we even think about tanning!!!

just another Thursday in Eckington

depends which Eckington; I can think of at least 3 places with that name!!!

I meant the black witches!

I just looked up WTF mushroom mead is..... LOL