Scotland’s Burryman Parade Celebrates 400 Years of Tradition

The Burryman Parade, a captivating folk tradition, is set to take place in South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, on August 11, 2023. This event has its roots in customs believed to date back approximately 400 years, potentially linked to the celebration of the harvest or the changing of seasons. Historians have noted that this annual parade, held on the second Friday of August, stands as “one of Scotland’s most intriguing folk traditions still celebrated.”

According to William Wallace Fyfe, a 19th-century author, the Burryman must be “a stout man or robust lad.” He cautioned that “weakly persons have been known to faint under the heat and fatigue of the dressing.” This year, Andrew Taylor, aged 43, will undertake the physically demanding role for the 14th time. His predecessor ensured he was well-prepared for the task by discussing the necessary attributes and mindset.

Taylor, who serves as an environmental warden for the Edinburgh council, explained that the Burryman symbolizes a scapegoat for the town, tasked with carrying away misfortune. “It brings everybody out; you sense the good community spirit while you’re doing it,” he stated in an interview. “I think it’s very important to keep going.”

Throughout his experience, Taylor has encountered a wide range of weather conditions during the parade, noting that overcast days tend to make the procession more manageable. “Over the 13 years I’ve been doing it, we’ve encountered every bit of weather you can imagine. The weather’s never defeated us, put it that way.”

In keeping with tradition, Taylor will consume around 20 drams of whisky throughout the day, but he will pace himself, drinking through a straw due to the restrictive nature of his elaborate costume. The Burryman’s outfit consists of thousands of burdock burrs, which possess a natural Velcro-like quality. These burrs are attached to large pieces of material that form a bodysuit and balaclava. Traditionally, family members collect the burrs, though neighbours have increasingly joined in the effort in recent years.

The costume also features a garland of flowers adorning his head and two staff-like poles decorated with flowers and Lion Rampant flags, which provide support during the lengthy procession. The parade commences at 9:00 AM when the Burryman emerges from the Stag Head Hotel on the High Street. Throughout the day, he will cover approximately nine miles, making about 20 stops before concluding at the waterfront near the Forth Bridge around 6:00 PM.

Accompanied by two attendants and a bell ringer who announces, “Hip hip hooray, it’s the Burryman’s Day,” the Burryman attracts many locals who follow his procession. Participants often collect fallen burrs as tokens of good fortune. It is customary for those who offer the Burryman a dram of whisky or a cash donation to receive blessings of good luck in return.

Taylor expressed his enthusiasm for continuing the role of Burryman for many years to come, noting the rarity of such local traditions in Scottish towns and villages. “The most amazing thing about it is, I don’t think anybody can say for certain why the Burryman started; we’ve all got our different stories,” he remarked. “It’s got that lovely mystery about it; I really think that’s what makes it what it is.”

The Burryman Parade not only celebrates a deep-rooted cultural heritage but also fosters a sense of community, bringing together residents and visitors alike in a shared appreciation of this unique and enduring tradition.