DUBLIN, Ireland: Hundreds of spectators gathered at the Hill of Uisneach over the weekend for a Celtic fire procession, a centuries-old ritual marking the arrival of summer.
Performers in traditional Celtic costumes and leaf-adorned headdresses re-enacted ancient customs as they led a procession of light and fire at the historic site, which is steeped in Irish mythology and was once associated with the High Kings of Ireland.
The Bealtaine Fire Festival culminated in the lighting of a massive bonfire, a tradition believed to date back more than 1,000 years. The festival also featured talks on prehistoric astronomy, poetry, and storytelling sessions, as well as live music and drumming before the fire procession began at sundown.
