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Summer begins as Beltane Fire Festival starts celebrations

News imageBleu Hope A woman is looking down the camera and is spinning fire on sticks above her head. She is dressed in black and white clothing and has her face painted white with black stars around her eyesBleu Hope
The celebration is the spring and summer counterpart to the Samhuinn Fire Festival, that takes place in October

Almost 10,000 people attended the annual Beltane Fire Festival in Edinburgh on Thursday night to celebrate the beginning of the summer season.

The celebration on the city's Calton Hill is led by the May Queen and Green Man, and includes theatrical dancing as well as roaring fires.

The modern fire festival has been running since 1988 and is the spring and summer counterpart to Samhuinn Fire Festival, which is also held at Calton Hill on 31 October.

The fire society charity is run by volunteers who want to mark the fire festivals of the ancient celtic calendar and keep traditional street theatre, music and pageantry skills alive.

News imageIzzy Henry A man is spinning sparklers around this head surrounding him with embers. People are sat watching him perform at night.Izzy Henry
Almost 10,000 people attended the celebration
News imageDan Lile A group of people hold sticks above their head and they surround a man stood with horns coming out of his head.Dan Lile
The festival has taken place every year since 1988
News imageSébastien Lemaire The festival is a modernisation of an ancient Iron Age Celtic ritualSébastien Lemaire
The festival is a modernisation of an ancient Iron Age Celtic ritual
News imageKitt Bunney A women is holding a leaf shaped piece of metal that is on fire. She is side on facing the camera with her front knee lifted up. Kitt Bunney
The festival includes the light of the Beltane Fire
News imageZhi Kang Chua A man is smiling holding large metal rings that are on fire. he is wearing a black cropped denim top with fish net sleeves.Zhi Kang Chua
Fire plays a key role in the festival
News imageKitt Bunney A man and a women are stood in front of a fire and we can see their silhouette. The man has horns coming from his head and the women has a form of veil on.Kitt Bunney
The word 'Beltane' roughly translates to 'bright fire'
News imageZhi Kang Chua A group of people are covered in the red glow from the fire. They are all dancing a embers fly around them.Zhi Kang Chua
The event is an immersive experience