Fireball Festival
The Fireball Festival is one of the most spectacular new year ceremonies and takes place in Stonehaven which is just south of Aberdeen on the North East coast of Scotland. This festival dates dates back to pre-Christian times where it is believed to be linked to the Winter Solstice.
Giant fireballs are made by the local residents of the Burgh (the local area of the town). They wrap chicken wire around a mass of combustible materials to the approximate size of a football and attach strong wielded ropes to them. Quality control is important here and each one is throughly checked for its sturdiness.
The fireballs represent the power of the sun driving out all the evil spirits lurking in all the nooks and crannies of the town. At the stroke of midnight the Town House bell chimes, a pipe band swirls the air with rousing music and the fireballs are lit. 60 strong local residents called “fireball swingers” march through the town to the harbour swinging these fireballs over their heads to speed the Old Year on its way and to herald in the New Year. The grand finale is when these flaming orbs of spiritual entrapment are thrown into the sea and the townsfolk party into the early hours of the morning.
The Stonehaven Fireballs Association have videos and a webcam which you can view on their website. Also check out the Aberdeenshire Council webcam which shows the gathering area and where the fireballs are thrown into the sea (high tide permitting).
If you do go, remember to wear old clothes, there are sparks, smoke and bits in the air. Hope for good weather as this is Scotland after all!!
