Guide To The Burning Of The Clavie – A Unique Scottish Tradition

There aren’t many events in Scotland quite like the Burning Of The Clavie in Burghead. For one night every January, this village on the Moray Coast bursts to life in a celebration of fun and flames. It’s an ancient custom at the heart of this community and it’s something that should be on your bucket list!

I attended the festival at the beginning of this year and the experience was incredible. For anybody visiting for the first time, this fiery spectacle can be more than a wee bit confusing. That’s why I’ve put this guide to the Burning of the Clavie together, to help you get the most out of it!

Where Is Burghead?

You’ll find Burghead on the Moray Coast, in a wee spit of land jutting out into the sea. It sits around halfway between Forres and Elgin, just along from the small town of Lossiemouth. It’s not a big place but it does have a big history as this was the location of the largest Pictish Fort ever found!

Reaching Burghead by car is easy with the B9089, B9040 and B9013 roads all merging to enter the village. There’s ample free parking around the streets, just avoid the very centre where the burning Clavie will later be carried. You can also reach Burghead easily by the 32 Bus from Elgin which takes around 10 minutes.

When Is The Burning Of The Clavie?

While the Burning of the Clavie is one of Scotland’s strange New Year customs, it doesn’t take place at the end of December! The people of Burghead celebrate the end of their year in the middle of January instead out of sheer stubbornness. Thanks to a change in our calendar that took place over 250 years ago, the Burning of the Clavie now takes place on January 11th.

In the 1750s, Britain moved to the Gregorian Calendar and lost 11 days that year to fall into line. Those in Burghead refused to accept the new date for Hogmanay, and carried on celebrating on the same day as always. It’s now a matter of pride for the locals that they celebrate the New Year twice!

Note that if the 11th January is a Sunday then the event takes place the night before! The next time that will happen is 2026 so don’t turn up on the wrong day.

What Is The Clavie?

At the heart of the festival is, of course, the Clavie itself. That’s a special barrel filled with creosote and wooden staves, mounted on a wooden pole by a nail knocked in by a special stone. It’s built by the Clavie King, a hereditary role that’s been held by Dan Ralph for over 30 years now. The Clavie crew are then responsible for carrying this 15-stone barrel around the town.

Crowds will follow the fiery procession around the streets or race through a warren of alleys to catch a glimpse of it as it turns a corner. Along the way, the crew will stop outside the homes of prominent locals and drop off burning staves with them as a mark of respect. Eventually, the climax of the Burning of the Clavie takes place as the barrel is mounted on Doorie Hill and burned to ashes.

How To See The Burning Of The Clavie

Burghead isn’t a large place but if you don’t know where the Burning of the Clavie begins then you would never find it! The event kicks off at 6pm, but when I visited the village hall was selling soup, rolls and hot drinks before that to keep revellers fuelled. After that, I followed the crowds to the home of the Clavie King on Granary Street, near the junction with Brander Street.

Eventually, the Clavie is brought out and the crew light it using a smouldering chunk of peat. Suddenly, the flames roar to life and more staves are added. Several rounds of “Hip, Hip, Hooray” follow until the fire is fierce enough and the Clavie is hoisted onto shoulders. Don’t get in the way of the burning barrel for obvious reasons as they take off around the streets!

It’s worth knowing the route ahead of time so that you can cut corners and see the Clavie being carried past. The crew carry it along the outline of the old village, heading down Brander Street then along Station Road past the seafront. It turns up Church Street before taking a right along Forteath Street and then onto Brander Street where it’s refuelled.

Next is a left onto King Street, right down Sellar Street, and all the way along Grant Street until it finally reaches Doorie Hill. That’s where the Clavie is hammered into its final place on a purpose built stone plinth. Most spectators will be gathered on the grassy hill opposite which is actually the ramparts of an old Pictish fort.

Doorie Hill and the Clavie’s Final Blaze

Doorie Hill is the climax of the night, but the Burning of the Clavie isn’t over yet. All of Burghead seems to be illuminated as bucket after bucket of fuel is thrown at the burning barrel. The roar of the flames and immense heat even at a distance was nothing short of spectacular. Each fireball was met by roaring cheers from the crowd.

This part of the night can take a couple of hours as you watch the crew bravely hammering at staves to encourage the Clavie on its way. Eventually, with a final fiery crash, the Clavie collapses into a heap. Locals, known as Brochers, will rush forward and grab any charred remains they can get their hands on. They’re thought to bring good luck for the year ahead and are often posted to Brochers who have moved away from home.

A True Community Event

The Burning of the Clavie is more than just a spectacle; it is a testament to the strength and spirit of the Burghead community. The festival is organized and carried out entirely by locals, who take immense pride in their role as stewards of this ancient custom. Nobody knows how far back the tradition goes, but it could well reach over 1000 years to the days of the Picts.

As you wander the streets after the flames have died away, you’ll hear lots of Happy New Year wishes. That’s when most of the parties really start with celebrations retreating into the homes of locals. When I walked around the streets of Burghead the following morning, there were a few sore heads!

Where To Stay Near Burghead

The Burning of the Clavie goes on so late that you’ll most likely need somewhere to stay near Burghead. There are a few options in the village but they get booked up in advance so be prepared to travel in from somewhere like Findhorn, Hopeman or Lossiemouth as I did.

Firth View, Burghead – This holiday apartment in Burghead has space for four people together at a very reasonable price!

Emerald Cottage, Burghead – For larger groups, this cottage in Burghead can take 6!

Stotfield Hotel, Lossiemouth – If you’d rather have a hotel room then head 15 minutes along the road to Lossiemouth.

Crown & Anchor, Findhorn – Just 15 minutes in the other direction, the Crown & Anchor is another great wee hotel in Findhorn.

Enjoy The Burning Of The Clavie!

Attending the Burning of the Clavie was an unforgettable experience, one that left me with a smile on my face and warmth in my soul. Experiencing a unique local tradition like this is a special thing and all the Brochers I spoke to made me feel very welcome.

I’d strongly urge you to see it for yourself and leave me a comment below if you do! You never know, you might even bump into me there doing it all again. After all, it’s a great excuse to celebrate Hogmanay a second time each year!

Don’t forget that Burns Night will be coming along shortly after this on the 25th January. If you’ve never attended a Burns Supper before then have a read of this guide to help you host your own!