Edinburgh
Festival
The origin of the Edinburgh Festival goes back to
the WWII, when the city was saved from large-scale bombing. The visiting
soldier and refugees from all over Europe flocked to Edinburgh, where they
received a warm welcome from the natives, organizing dances and other social
events. A number of ‘friendly houses’ were established for soldiers and
refugees to meet. There were four houses: Polish, French, Czechoslovak and
later American.
One of the first and most influential projects took
place in the National Gallery of Scotland in May 1941. The exhibition displayed
works by the artists of eight Allied countries: Belgium, Czechoslovakia,
France, Greece, Yugoslavia, Netherlands, Norway and Poland making the chief
contribution.
Those activities contributed to the true roots of
the Edinburgh Festival. However, they were not the only roots. The first
Edinburgh Music Festival appeared in 1815. In the next century drama made its
way into the scene. Combining all those factors and creating ‘a common
meeting-place for all the peoples of the world” resulted in the official name
as the Edinburgh International Festival of Music and Drama.
Fringe:
The popularity of drama division and its success
prompted a foundation of another Festival named Fringe. It is one of the
greatest gatherings of theatrical artist in the world.
Royal
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The origins of this festival go back to when British
Army was stationed in what was then called Flanders and now is Belgium during
one of the European wars in the 18th century. That is where they
learned the word tattoo, which in Dutch, (the Flanders’ language), meant ‘last
orders.’ At the end of the day Military musicians would perform a small
ceremony to let the soldiers know it was time to return to their barracks and
to rest for the night.
In 1948 and 1949, under the direction of Colonel
George Malcolm, the Castle Esplanade was transformed into a spectacle. The
display of piping and highland dancing took place each evening.
In 1950, Brigadier Alasdair MacLean took over and
began to create the Tattoo as it is known today. With every year, it gained
more and more popularity not only in the country, but across the globe.
Winter
Festival
The celebration of the last night of the year, known
as Hogmanay of unknown origin, is the most important of all Scottish
traditions.
The most common practice associated with the
celebrations is first-footing. It
was done especially by young men, preferably with dark hair. It was considered
lucky for the real first foot, the first person to cross the threshold in the
New Year. Nowadays, first-footers bring a bottle, sometimes food and a lump of
coal or something black.
The New Year celebration is part of the Winter
Festival and it is the high point.
The Winter Festival begins at the end of November
with the Christmas Light Night ceremony in East Princes Street Gardens. The
city’s festive lights, including the Christmas tree on the Mound, are switched
on. The following Sunday, the first Sunday in December, Santa Claus leads a
Grand Fantastical Christmas Parade. It consists of floats and is accompanied by
brass bands and street performers, moving along Princes Street and up Lothian
Road as far as Festival Square, where it comes to a triumphant conclusion.
Much of the activity takes place in East Princes
Street Gardens with an outdoor ice-rink of Winter Wonderland. Wide range of
produce with mulled wine and snacks are served.
2015 Calendar:
July 30 – August 30: Edinburgh Art Festival
August 7 - August 29: Royal Edinburgh Military
Tattoo
August 7 – August 31:
Edinburgh International Festival with Edinburgh Festival Fringe
