Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and 11 major festivals are commemorated there every year. These events are called Edinburgh Festivals. They are held every year with deep dignity by Scots and thousands overseas in Edinburgh. Here, we will talk a little bit about Edinburgh, their festivals, and their history.
A Little About Edinburgh
Entire world knows Edinburgh as a festival city. The city is popular for its rich history, cultural festivals, and architectural magnificence. It’s a place where people love their tradition. That’s the reason you would notice them in traditional dress including kilts. Remember kilts for men are more common than that of women.
According to Historic UK, Edinburgh became the capital of Scotland in 1437, when it replaced Scone. There are various castles and historic places in Edinburgh, while the population is over 600,000 people. Edinburgh festivals are among the entities making the city more prominent and attract thousands of people every year. That’s why the city is known as the world’s leading festival city.
Past of Edinburgh Festivals
According to the Edinburgh International Festival, the first observation of Edinburgh festivals was in 1947, when the Scottish government decided to lift the people out of World War II’s darkness. The founding purpose of this event was to make people happy with the help of art. Some resources claim the idea for festivals was discussed in 1942.
Festival organizers do not stop any person from participating there. The festival is a great chance to witness different types of art, from paintings to singing and dancing. Moreover, it is a commemoration letting people experience different foods from every corner of the world. According to an estimate, over 4 million people usually participate in these festivals.
Different Edinburgh Festivals
As mentioned earlier, these festivals have 11 parts. These festivals are ideal events for book lovers as well as art promoters. Similarly, storytellers benefit from these events as well. Undoubtedly the number of Scots in festivals is quite higher than others. Still a majority of people there are seen in their traditional attire even if some people are not Scots. The grace of the kilt outfit clicks every individual to dress it. Have a look at the details of these festivals now.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, also known as Edinburgh Fringe, is the most extensive art program worldwide. It began in 1947 and takes place mainly in August and lasts for 2-3 weeks. In 1959, the fringe community was founded to make it more structured. Since then, the festival’s fame has reached its peak.
Hundreds of stages are designed throughout the city every year, and thousands of people participate. This festival, furthermore, offers every type of theatre, art, and culture. The participants comprise the biggest names of the strugglers. As a result, this event is ideal for those looking to begin their careers in this domain.
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
According to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, 1949 was the first year to initiate this festival. A simple event, “Something About A Soldier,” inspired the authorities to initiate this event as a proper festival in Edinburgh. The event celebrates military precision, live music, and dance, featuring performances by British and international military bands, cultural performers, and artistic teams.
The event occurs in front of the great Edinburgh Castle, where 220,000 people join it annually. Festivals contribute a large part of the profit to the needy or those fighting sickness. The event occurs every evening in the first three weeks of August, while two programs are held on Friday and Saturday.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
The next event on the list is Edinburgh International Book Festival Scotland, which is not as old as the others. The culture became part of Edinburgh Festivals in 1983, remained biennial until 1997, and then transformed into a yearly festival.
Scotland is home to famous people who were linked to the words. Some famous names are Sir Walter Scot, Robert Burns, Ian Rankin, etc. Today, this festival for children and adults holds hundreds of events. Similarly, a significant number of poets, writers, panel discussions, talks, and performances participate in this festival. More than 100,000 people attended 600 events in 2024.
Edinburgh International Film Festival
People who want to establish their careers in the film world are fans of this festival. Edinburgh International Film Festival provides opportunities to thousands of people such as filmmakers and actors to showcase themselves. This event is the oldest-running film festival that was established in 1947 as the International Festival of Documentary Films. The festival runs for one week, and hundreds of filmgoers experience the work of excellent authorities worldwide.
Edinburgh International Jazz and Blues Festival
Edinburgh International Jazz and Blue Festival is a ten-day event. The festival starts on 12th July and ends on 21st July. Here the music-ambitious people can enjoy the merging of African and European music and techniques. The event became part of Edinburgh Festivals in 1978.
According to Scotland, almost 110 events are held every year during this festival, and over 70,000 people participate. The event is said to be the largest in Europe. Therefore, it occurs in different places, from nightclubs to concert halls. Moreover, every type of music, from Samba to Swings, can be enjoyed at this festival.
Edinburgh Science Festival
Edinburgh Science Festival is the world’s first event aimed to celebrate Science and Technology as an international event. The festival began in 1989 and is now essential to yearly Edinburgh Festivals. The event continues for two weeks during the Easter period.
The Edinburgh Science Festival educates juveniles’ minds by starting a conversation to improve the understanding level of children. The festival also helps them tackle significant issues like climate change, technology, etc.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival is an essential cultural event on the list. An interesting fact about this event is its time of origin. Its commemoration started in the 17th century, when Christmas was banned. Scots used to celebrate this day as Christmas Eve, and this practice continued even after the ban was eliminated.
Today, this event is celebrated from 29th December to 1st January every year. In some cases, the celebration extends to 2nd January. Edinburgh is the primary city where the most significant number of people gather in the streets. Some common and traditional practices affiliated with this day in Scotland are first-footing, torchlight processions, burn nights, Redding the house, staining, and looky doon.
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
The skill of telling stories in Scotland is something else that takes listeners to a different world. The art inspired the Scottish government to affiliate a festival to this skill in 1989 when 700 people attended the program. The tradition of storytelling began in 500 AD in Scotland, thanks to Irish ancestry.
This festival lasts almost two weeks, usually from the 18th to the 31st of October. According to the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, 125 sessions were held in 2023, during which 6,244 people participated as listeners while 58 storytellers told 750 stories.
Edinburgh Art Festival
This festival is the UK’s largest annual festival of visual art. As an international event, it is a leading platform to promote the development, production, and presentation of new work. Though no one is prohibited from participating, the majority of artists are from Scotland and the United Kingdom.
The Edinburgh Art Festival started in 2004. It lasts for almost two weeks or a couple of days more. Moreover, the festival is the UK’s longest annual festival dedicated to visual art. Over 200 artists participated in EAF in 2024.
Edinburgh International Children Festival
Edinburgh Fringe for children is a fantastic event. Daily programs of children’s shows, theatre, magic, and dance are observed. The average duration of a show is an hour or so. The festival started on 25th May and ended in June this year. Over 10,000 children, their parents, and teachers participated.
Conclusion
Edinburgh Festivals is a set of events in Edinburgh every year. The set comprises 11 events which are held on different dates, most of which happen in August. These events began in 1947 after the dark period of World War II. The festival aims to make people happy and showcase themselves. Every festival the people celebrate there are unique and have different purposes.
