Burghead gears up for Burning of the Clavie
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Forget all that first of January malarkey – 2024 will only begin properly in Burghead next Thursday evening.
Tradition dictates that Brochers wait until January 11 to welcome in the New Year with the Burning of the Clavie, their famous fire festival.
Thousands of folk are due to descend on the fishing village to watch the Clavie Crew take it in turns to carry a burning barrel around Burghead upon their shoulders.
At the start of the evening, when still full of tar, the barrel can weigh upwards of 15 stone.
Daniel Davidson, along with his twin brother Roddy, is part of the Clavie Crew, who balance its heavy weight.
Daniel said: “The Burning of the Clavie is part of our heritage. It means a great deal to be able to do this. We work closely with the police and the fire service to make sure everything is as safe as possible.”
The crew follow a time-honoured path around the village, handing out smouldering staves from the barrel, which are said to bring good luck for the rest of the year.
After its tour of Burghead’s streets, the barrel is then taken up to Doorie Hill, the village’s highest point.
Daniel said: “It’s a special moment when the fuel gets thrown on the Clavie and you see thousands of faces at the bottom of the hill suddenly being lit up in the dark.”
Nobody knows for sure, but it’s believed that the Burning of the Clavie dates back more than a thousand years to Pictish times, an era when Burghead was one of the country’s largest settlements.
The event will start at 6pm on Thursday, with the barrel being set alight near Brander Street outside the home of Dan Ralph, the Clavie King.
