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Brighton’s Burning the Clocks light’s the touch paper to this winter’s season of fire and fireworks festivals. The primeval urge to light up the night comes into its own in the UK on the winter solstice, just a week away on December 21. On that day, the journey from sunrise to sunset in Britain will take only 6 to 7 hours (the shortest day of all at the top of Scotland).

With so much winter darkness, it’s not surprising that so many of our winter festivals are centered on dramatic displays of fire. Festivals that today are seen as well-oiled, noisy nights out, have their roots in the Celtic and Viking fire rituals that were meant to encourage the return of the sun.

Fire celebrations kick off next Monday with The Burning of the Clocks in Brighton. There are loads more fire festivals and all that fire and brimstone is not only tremendous fun, most of the festivals are awfully photogenic. Read about some of the wildest festivals and see the videos:

• The Burning of the Clocks

• The Allendale Tar Barl
• The Stonehaven Fireball
• The Comrie Flambeaux

And winter solstice festivals are not unique to Britain. About.com’s guide to Ireland, Bernd Biege, has collected a round up of Winter Solstice events around the world. Check out his Blog Carnival The Winter Solstice … Not Just Newgrange.

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Brighton’s Burning the Clocks Ignites Fire Season originally appeared on About.com United Kingdom Travel on Monday, December 14th, 2009 at 12:08:32.

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