AIR POINT
- The first of the four elemental points visited is Air. Air Point represents the elemental nature of wind and air - gentle and ethereal, but also powerful and dangerous. Air is often seen as symbolic of cleanliness and purity, but has a hidden power as seen in nature in gales and storms.
EARTH POINT 
- Earth is the second of the elemental points visited by the procession. Earth point features aspects of the earth in nature: mother earth, growth, spring and shelter are all elements of earth. Earth is also often seen as one of the most primitive of the elements, as it is the base on which all the other elements exist.
WATER POINT :scubadive - Water is the third element visited by the procession. Water, like air is a mixed element, both nurturing and caring, and needed by all life, but also powerful and violent in storms and the oceans. Water Point represents the different aspects of water, and also focuses on water's role as a cleansing and purifying element.
FIRE POINT :flamed: - During the performance, the element of fire is mainly used to symbolise cleansing and the warmth of the sun at spring. Fire with its raw, untamed nature shows the power and danger of fire and the sun, the source of all life. The role of fire is one of chaos joined with order. In the real world, fire seems chaotic to the inexperienced person, but patterns emerge within the ritual showing a mythical understanding and respect within the performance.
THE RED MEN:stirthepo - The Red Men are the Lords and Ladies of Misrule and Beltane is their night of mischief - the ‘World Turn'd Upside Down’ - the one night of the year where fools become kings. The Red Men represent the archetypes of the mischief makers, Pan-like figures who live for the moment without a care in the world or any inhibitions to repress them. These mischief makers have this one night each year to make merry, tempt, seduce, carry out acts of foolishness and wantonness and inspire the revellers to forget the next day and abandon themselves to the excesses of the night. At Samhuinn, having endured a summer of debauchery and merry making, The Red Men appear deformed, walking with sticks and suffering from blindness and clumsiness. Their 'ageing' is in step with that of the other court characters. Their whole lives lived in just a year in our own world. The Red Men are often misconstrued as being demons or devils, but far from this they are simply a personification of the need in all of us to let loose and go wild just once in our lives. Their very reason for existence is simply to 'throw a spanner in the works', to divert the path of fate. But despite their best efforts, these random agents are always thwarted, often with comical results.
RED BEASTIES :snaredrum - The Red Beastie Drummers are the musical breath of the Red Men. With their strong, flowing, earthy rhythms they amplify the Red Men’s spirit of playful chaos and seduction to the whole Hill. The Red Beastie drummer has a preference for organic drums such as djembes, surdus, dharbukas and shakers, contrasting and complementing the snares, toms and kick drums of the more orderly and serious Processional Drummers.
NO POINT 
- Caricatures of the Beltane characters, the 'No Point' puppet crew roam free within the crowd at Beltane, poking fun and entertaining those out of sight of the main action. Apart from being a simple in-joke and an amusing play on words, the No-Pointers provide an important interaction with the crowd on the hill, before, during and after the procession. They also show off the impressive talents of the puppet makers, demonstrating just what can be done with an small bundle of wicker. Often they will make guest appearances at other events as they are in keeping with the promenade spirit of carnival and have been a feature of large public performances throughout history. Used in many religious festivals they are usually effigies of deities or figures who have somehow wronged the community. In many European countries, during the celebrations of saints' days these effigies are filled with fireworks and set alight, exploding in a show of colours. Our puppets also usually end up being given a ceremonial cremation, once they deteriorate too much to be used anymore.
TORCHBEARERS :bubble: - Torch Bearers are an important, trusted group. They dress from head to foot in black, blacked out their faces, cover their hair, essentially they are protected from fire and other elements. They are keepers of the boundary between ordinary space and that of the procession. The torchbearers role is both to light the action and, with the Blue Men, to manage the spectators.
STEWARDS 
- Stewards also occupy an important role, and are a crucial link between the performers and the audience. They help to manage the crowds, protect the procession and ensure that a good time is had by all. Stewards liaise with performers, the production team and the audience, and ensure that everything runs smoothly, while still enjoying a fantastic view of the procession themselves.
Many thanks to all who took the time to read this 'essay', I hope you can use this information or have at least learned something new - I know I have.
