Edinburgh marks the beginning of winter with fire festival Thousands of people gather on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to mark the start of winter with a Celtic fire festival. The festival of Samhuinn pre-dates the arrival of Christianity to Europe, and is thought to have been a precursor to the modern festival of Halloween. Around 200 semi-naked painted performers dance around the flames in a procession leading from Edinburgh Castle to a stage outside the gothic St Giles Cathedral. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES