Britain's annual Imbolc fire festival welcomes spring

MARSDEN, UK: The Imbolc Fire Festival, is a biennial event. It dates back to thousands of years and celebrates the end of the dark winter days and the return of the light.

The celebration was held recently in Marsden, with a procession of villagers dressed as druids, Celtic Gods, fire performers carrying burning candles to fend off the dark, as is the trend followed every year.

One of the most symbolic battles is between two giants; Jack Frost, representing winter and the other who is Green Man representing Spring. There is a battle between the two. The Green Man wins because it's the beginning of the spring.

The event is named after Celtic festival which is celebrated to welcome spring. The festival entered Marsden in 1993 and has been an annual event ever since until 2014, until it started to be celebrated alternately. People also take part inquisitively in the lantern making workshops in the run-up to the event.