2010-12-31
(Archive)
Stonehaven Fireball Festival
Every New Year at midnight, Hogmanay celebrations in Stonehaven feature a large, fireball-swinging procession up and down the High Street. At the end (00.25) the flaming orbs are thrown into the sea at the harbour, followed by a five-minute fireworks display.
With 45 local marchers all whirling balls of fire of assorted weights
and sizes above their heads on the end of long wire handles, the parade
makes an impressive and faintly terrifying spectacle.
While its
origins are lost in the mists of time, the ceremony was already going in
1853. It is one of only a few fire festivals/ceremonies left in
Scotland and could have started as a purification rite, warding off evil
spirits, or as a sun-worshiping tradition, with the fireball
representing the sun. Organisers now expect 10-12,000 spectators.
When: 31 Dec 2010
Where: Stonehaven, Scotland
From: whatsonwhen.com
last modification: 2010-12-28
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