Celebrate ancient traditions with Samhuinn festival

Friday, 09, Oct 2009 04:28

Those who love New Year's Eve but find they cannot wait until December 31st may want to consider a break in Scotland to take part in some traditional celebrations.

At the end of every October, the Samhuinn Festival brings in the Celtic New Year and Edinburgh - the country's capital city - comes alive in the form of a spectacular party.

Taking place along the Royal Mile, the Celtic festival marks the end of summer when in years gone by herds of animals had to be rounded up into enclosures and lowland fields for protection from the oncoming winter.

Also viewed to be as a night of the dead, the event is historically seen as a time for the spirits of the departed to pay their relatives one last visit before leaving for the other-world forever.

In a retelling of the traditional tale where the Summer King fought against the Winter King, the event is marked by a procession through the city's streets where physical theatre, music and folk dance all come together to offer a feast for the senses.

With the festival ending in a dazzling firework display at West Parliament Square, the Edinburgh sky will be lit up, offering spectacular sights for local and tourists - including those who choose to rent a castle in Scotland - alike.

However, with much of the celebrations taking place outside, visitors may want to ensure they bring hats, scarves and other warm clothes into their Scottish holiday homes to keep the chill away. Visitors will also find that hot chocolate and mulled wine stalls which line the streets should help them to stave off the cold.

Those looking to truly immerse themselves in the event may want to consider wearing fancy dress and don Samhuinn-inspired costumes, cloaks and masks.

Once the procession is over, visitors may find that opting to stay in a self catering castle gives them the chance to carry on the new year celebrations in style before taking in everything else this stunning city has to offer.