Baal fire day, Whalton, UK

In the Northumbrian village of Whalton today is traditionally the day for lighting the baal fire. This bonfire's name comes not from the god Baal but from either the Celtic bel meaning bright, or Anglo-Saxon bael, fire. Or perhaps it comes from the old British sun god Belenus, 'the Shining One'.

At about 7.30 pm a bonfire is lit on the village green around which people make music, leap through the flames and perform traditional morris dancing around the fire.
In ancient times a select group of young people used to gather wood in the forest and cart it into the village to the sound of a cart horn ...

Categories: uk, calendar-customs, bonfire