Samhuin Festival 2010 Edinburgh

It’s the time of the year again where people around the world decorate their houses with jack’ o lanterns (scary pumpkin face cut out), kids don on scary masks and costumes ‘trick-or-treating’, and people having ghastly parties, visiting haunted attractions and watching horror films.

Halloween has its origins derived from the Gaelic harvest festival of Samhuin (pronounced “sow-en”). For Pagans, it is a time to honor their ancestors and loved ones who are deceased, a time to celebrate the cycle of life and also the end of the harvest season where Summer meets Winter.

In Edinburgh, the locals celebrate this festival by holding a parade every year. People would turn up in colorful costumes playing flutes, drums, carry torches and parade down the Royal Mile from Edinburgh Castle to the West Parliament Square near the St. Giles Cathedral. It is here that the festival takes on a more fiery approach with impressive fire displays while captivating the spectators with a theatric play of Summer verses Winter.

Taking the Lothian bus down to join in the festival

Promotional posters for the Samhuin Festival

Posing for photographs

Some of their costumes resembles could give cosplays in Japan a run for their money

People looking on from the warmth of their home

woah... what's that behind J?!

Happy Halloween everyone!
Jon & Yee

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