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Traditional Celtic and Non Celtic Festivals of Scotland
Beltane’s
Day – May 1st
A
pagan fire festival which goes back to pre-Christian times. It was
supposed to help crops to grow. There has been a holiday at the start of
May in many parts of Scotland for centuries. Young girls would rise early
to wash their faces. The custom of lighting fires has come through in
places such as Tarbolton in Ayrshire ( Tor meaning hill and Bolton from
Beltane). The ancient Druid Fire Festival has been revived and nowadays
people gather on Calton Hill in Edinburgh.
Empire
Day/ Victoria Day – May 24th
Flags
of the British Empire were put on public buildings and schools. The name
was changed to Commonwealth Day. In many parts of Scotland, May 24th
was a holiday and Queen Victoria’s birthday was celebrated.
Tradition continued long after her reign.
Guid
Nychburris – Mid June
This
is a Dumfries festival and its origins are in a court which resolved
disputes among neighbours to make them “Guid Nychburris” or good
neighbours .
Lanimer
Day – June 17th
It’s
held in Lanark. Houses are decorated with greenery and there is a Fair.
Selkirk
Common Riding – June 18th
A
ceremony of Riding the Marches or boundaries is traditional in many parts
around Scotland. This
tradition has still survived particularly in the Scottish Borders.
Glasgow
Fair – last two weeks in July
Originally
was a real fair established by a charter from William the Lion in 1190.
Lately, it’s held on the last two weeks of July when factories and
offices close for Summer holidays and the family goes
to the holiday resorts on the River Clyde.
Lammas
– August 1st
The
origins of this festival are probably in the Celtic feast of Lugnasad.
Others believe that it was a corruption of “Loafmas” when a
loaf was baked with the first grains from the harvest.
Today
it is a Scottish legal “Quarter Day” when rents and contracts are due.
Marymas
– August 15th
A
bannock (cake) was toasted on a fire in honour of the Virgin Mary.
First Four-Month / Third Four-Month
Copyright Monica Loreto
