Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 33 on 22/06/2007.

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To the beat of a different drum

Roddy Martine looks at the history of Scotland’s most spectacular annual event, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo which takes place in August on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle has become, beyond doubt, one of the greatest open-air spectacles in the world. For the past seven years it has been selling out almost six months in advance.

At the core of this thousand strong spectacle is the haunting sound of several hundred pipers and drummers against a versatile display of colour and culture created by performers from all corners of the world. More than 11 million people have been to the Edinburgh Tattoo, some 200,000 each year.

Another 100 million enjoy the spectacle regularly on worldwide television. More than 50 per cent of the tickets are sold within the first two weeks of their going on sale.

So what exactly is a Tattoo? The 1st Duke of Marlborough’s triumphant wars in the Low Countries at the start of the 18th century seem long ago and far away, yet it is in those wars that we find the Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s origins. The Dutch taverns which the British soldiers frequented would close to the cry of ‘Doe den tap toe’ meaning literally ‘Turn off the taps,’ and consequently ‘Tap toe’ became a drum and bugle signal which summoned the soldiery back to their quarters for the night. From this, the ‘Tap toe’ gradually evolved into a ritual to formally mark the end of a day, not unlike the ceremony of ‘Beating the Retreat.’ Later, in Russia, devout soldiers added a hymn of thanksgiving to the ritual for having lived another day. The habit spread across Eur.....

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By Roddy Martine

Section : Scottish Events

Page number : 68