i-phone Halloween Parade shots

Somehow the i-phone makes the Beltane Fire Society Halloween parade look sinister, but it wasn't at all and this is the last of the Halloween photos.  If you want to see the kids costumes click here or the Olympus Pen shots of the Zombie Walk click here

 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 pastures to lowland fields and enclosures for protection. With the signs of approaching 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.

"I got a red ticket, what does it mean"

'Yipee, we got red tickets too, what do they mean"

The red tickets just had odd words on them like scream or gave you a little bit of history about Edinburgh and actually were nothing sinister or special, but those who got them were super excited, and good for them!



Click here to read more about what it is all about.

 

Zombie Walk & Beltane Fire Society on Halloween

Halloween in the old town of Edinburgh started off with a Zombie Walk that even 3 brave Luchadors were powerless to stop!

The whole thing did make us all laugh, especially when a couple of Taxi's drove down the street to drop off guests at a hotel only to be slowly surrounded by Zombies - it was so funny and the drivers and passengers were all laughing too!

After the Zombie Walk there was a short interlude before the Beltane Fire Society did their Celtic parade which is actually a New Years Eve parade about the end (death) of summer/autumn and the start of winter.....

Then off home driven by no other than El Santo!

If you want to read more about the Celtic Beltane Fire Society then click here to read more about what it is all about.

Dussehra (more pictures including fireworks)

For these 3, life is not now looking colourful as they are about to be set alight!  The 3 figures that get burned to the ground for this Hindu celebration were actually made by the prisoners in Saughton Prison in Edinburgh (and have been for the last few years).  Quite symbolic when you think about it (but also the chap Shamus and I laughed when we said, goodness you could make that into a story like the Wickerman!)

Followed by fireworks - yey!

F is for Fireworks