European Fire Rituals - Neid Fire
Last updated 1-June-2026
A Russian illustration of the Fire Gate being used to kindle Sacred Living Fire - image appears in the book We Are Slavs by Maria Semyonova (click on image for online copy of book)
Neid Fire, Need Fire, Neid Fyre, Force Fire, Teine-éiginn, Tein'-éigin, Tein eigin, Notfeuer, Nodfyr, Nedfres, Nedfri, священного живого Огня
Overview
The Neid Fire Ritual \ Folk Tradition has mostly been erased from our ancestral memory in the British Isles.
My passion is for the Neid Fire to become part of our heritage once again!
This page gives an overview of the ritual practice and history.
I am fascinated by the old (mostly long forgotten) ritual practice of Neid Fire. It s known by many names in different languages : Neid Fire, Force Fire, Teine Éigin (Irish Gaelic) or Teine Èiginn (Scottish Gaelic), Notfeuer, Nodfyr, Nedfris, Nedfres, священного живого Огня (Sacred Living Fire) . Neid Fire means fire of necessity or emergency fire - the Neid Fire was kindled through the friction of wood in times of distress (e.g. outbreak of disease ) or at auspicious times of year (Samhain, Beltaine, Kuppala.) It is also known as wild fire or living fire as the fire kindled through friction was seen to be more wild and alive and pure than fire struck from flint and steel.
I am also fascinated by the friction fire devices described by many 19th and 18th century writers which were used during these rituals which I have referred to as Fire Churns - the slavic term is Fire Gate. These fire churns are different to the Vedic Fire Churning practice (but there are links and similarities between the practices.) The Neid Fire folk tradition took place throughout the British Isles, Eire, Europe and Slavs/Baltics/Russia. The practice continued throughout Europe until approximately the 1850s ... confined to written accounts by scholars ands historians.
The practice has been revived throughout Eastern Europe/Baltics/Slavs/Russia largely due to Rodnovery (the Slavic Native Faith ) which is a religious movement and reconstructionist faith (fromed in 20th century) where practitioners seek to revive the pre-Christian, polytheistic, and animistic traditions of the historic Slavic peoples.
The practice has mostly been forgotten with the British Isles. The artist Tim Knowles did an art installation called Force Fire at the 2015 Helmsdale Highland Games where they re-interpreted the Fire Churn which was used as part of the opening ceremony. I started posting and sharing about Neid Fire in 2016 and built my own interpretation which was used as part of rituals at Events. I have also inspired others to build their own interpretations, within Scotland, Eire and Denmark.
My fascination isn’t just on the practical level of the Fire gates but also the symbolism and spiritualism of these rituals and the communal extinguishing and relighting of hearth fires; and the importance of the community coming together at times of distress and at auspicious times of the year .
I am keen to see the practice continue on... but for me it is more than just a way to light a fire but a ritual and folk tradition - I am not a gatekeeper but I feel time should be spent sourcing material; building and experimenting and using it in a communal honouring way; which is why I haven't made a "how to build a fire churn" guide. I am also happy to pass on knowledge and advice and to share the articles and writings I have found on the subject.
The Neid Fire Ritual \ Folk Tradition has mostly been erased from our ancestral memory in the British Isles.
My passion is for the Neid Fire to become part of our heritage once again!
This page gives an overview of the ritual practice and history.
I am fascinated by the old (mostly long forgotten) ritual practice of Neid Fire. It s known by many names in different languages : Neid Fire, Force Fire, Teine Éigin (Irish Gaelic) or Teine Èiginn (Scottish Gaelic), Notfeuer, Nodfyr, Nedfris, Nedfres, священного живого Огня (Sacred Living Fire) . Neid Fire means fire of necessity or emergency fire - the Neid Fire was kindled through the friction of wood in times of distress (e.g. outbreak of disease ) or at auspicious times of year (Samhain, Beltaine, Kuppala.) It is also known as wild fire or living fire as the fire kindled through friction was seen to be more wild and alive and pure than fire struck from flint and steel.
I am also fascinated by the friction fire devices described by many 19th and 18th century writers which were used during these rituals which I have referred to as Fire Churns - the slavic term is Fire Gate. These fire churns are different to the Vedic Fire Churning practice (but there are links and similarities between the practices.) The Neid Fire folk tradition took place throughout the British Isles, Eire, Europe and Slavs/Baltics/Russia. The practice continued throughout Europe until approximately the 1850s ... confined to written accounts by scholars ands historians.
The practice has been revived throughout Eastern Europe/Baltics/Slavs/Russia largely due to Rodnovery (the Slavic Native Faith ) which is a religious movement and reconstructionist faith (fromed in 20th century) where practitioners seek to revive the pre-Christian, polytheistic, and animistic traditions of the historic Slavic peoples.
The practice has mostly been forgotten with the British Isles. The artist Tim Knowles did an art installation called Force Fire at the 2015 Helmsdale Highland Games where they re-interpreted the Fire Churn which was used as part of the opening ceremony. I started posting and sharing about Neid Fire in 2016 and built my own interpretation which was used as part of rituals at Events. I have also inspired others to build their own interpretations, within Scotland, Eire and Denmark.
My fascination isn’t just on the practical level of the Fire gates but also the symbolism and spiritualism of these rituals and the communal extinguishing and relighting of hearth fires; and the importance of the community coming together at times of distress and at auspicious times of the year .
I am keen to see the practice continue on... but for me it is more than just a way to light a fire but a ritual and folk tradition - I am not a gatekeeper but I feel time should be spent sourcing material; building and experimenting and using it in a communal honouring way; which is why I haven't made a "how to build a fire churn" guide. I am also happy to pass on knowledge and advice and to share the articles and writings I have found on the subject.
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History of the Neid Fire
The tradition of the Neid Fire may date (there is no proof, only speculation) back to approximately the age of the Celts & Slavs \ Iron Age but there is no evidence of when this practice started, but fire has been always held much significance and I'm sure fire rituals of one form or another have taken place for thousands of years; and the Neid Fire evolved over time. It does seem that they were in use during the Middle Ages as there is historical evidence in the 7th and 8th centuries that attempts were made to ban the Neid Fire practices by the Church (see further below) I have found various written accounts by various writers from the 17th century onwards : Johannes Reiske (German educator and historian 1641 - 1701) wrote Not Feuer in 1696; Sir James Frazer (Anthropologist 1854 to 1941 author of "The Golden Bough" ) describes the Fire rituals of Europe and Fire Churns; Martin Martin (Màrtainn Màrtainn dod 1718 author of A Description of the Western Islands of Scotland 1703); Alexander Carmichael (folklorist 1832-1912 author of Carmina Gadelica, a compendium of Highland lore and literature .); Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folk-lore by Walter Keating Kelly 1863. The practice was also used throughout the Slavs and in Russia the device is called огненные ворота (Fire Gate) and the practice continues on within the Slavic Native Faith. Based on the various writings and references, it was indeed a folk tradition but there is no way of knowing how far back it dates. |
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This photograph, from The Folklore journal published in 1898, shows a piece of wood which was apparently used in one of the last Neid Fire (or Teine Eigin ) rituals that took place in Houstry in the Highlands of Scotland in 1810. This "artifact" was kept in the family of Rev. George Sutherland, of the Free Church of Scotland, Torosay, Isle of Mull. This is the first time I've ever come across any sort of archaeological\photographic evidence (apart from written accounts) of the practice of Teine Eigin (Neid Fire.). Of course, this is no absolute evidence, it could be just a piece of wood :) BUT It does looks like it could have been used as a friction fire hearth board. And if indeed it was kept in the family for over 80 years, then it must have been a very special piece of wood.
Go to the below link for the full article, including an account (presumably passed down the family) from Mr Sutherland of the last Teigne Eigin in Houstry (I find this absolutely fascinating and I have located the Burn (stream) of Houstry mentioned where the ritual took place on an island. ) Houstry is one place I would love to visit!
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Folk-lore_-_A_Quarterly_Review._Volume_9,_1898.djvu/306
Go to the below link for the full article, including an account (presumably passed down the family) from Mr Sutherland of the last Teigne Eigin in Houstry (I find this absolutely fascinating and I have located the Burn (stream) of Houstry mentioned where the ritual took place on an island. ) Houstry is one place I would love to visit!
https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Folk-lore_-_A_Quarterly_Review._Volume_9,_1898.djvu/306
"Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folk-lore "by Walter Keating Kelly 1863
Chapter II is very interesting as it talks about Sacred Fire, Fire Churning (in India and Europe) and Neid Fires.
I've found a free on-line version here.
Chapter II can be found from page 37 onwards. It's interesting as Walter talks alot about other contraptions being used to produce the fire such as cart wheels and horizontal fire churns - as well as the fire churn's I've pictured on this page.
The extract to the left is also intriguing as it states that the earliest account of the Neid fire in England is from 1268 documented in the Chronicle of Lanercost. There is an ebook of the Lanercost Chronicles here but it's mostly in latin and I've not found a translation for the year 1268, so currently I can only go on Walter Kelly's assumption.
Chapter II is very interesting as it talks about Sacred Fire, Fire Churning (in India and Europe) and Neid Fires.
I've found a free on-line version here.
Chapter II can be found from page 37 onwards. It's interesting as Walter talks alot about other contraptions being used to produce the fire such as cart wheels and horizontal fire churns - as well as the fire churn's I've pictured on this page.
The extract to the left is also intriguing as it states that the earliest account of the Neid fire in England is from 1268 documented in the Chronicle of Lanercost. There is an ebook of the Lanercost Chronicles here but it's mostly in latin and I've not found a translation for the year 1268, so currently I can only go on Walter Kelly's assumption.
Unfortunately, there is little evidence of Teine Eigin in Eire BUT (apparently) there is archeological evidence at the Hill of Uisneach of a site where a fire was kept burning perpetually, or kindled at frequent times ( I need ro research more about this.) This archaeology ties in with Irish folklore , which says sacred fires were lit at Uisneach in celebration of Bealtaine. The lack of documented accounts in Eire could be largely due to The Church as this practice was seen as Heathen and banned.
To me, it seems that the Neid Fire practices may have been the only time friction fire was used in Europe at that time as from the Iron Age onwards flint and steel seems to have been the main method (and the only method sanctioned by The Church as friction fire was seen as heathen.) Neid Fire seemed only to be used in times of distress or at auspicious times of the year (such as the Celtic festivals of Beltaine and Samhain and Slavic Kupala festival ) to kindle a new pure fire
It seems a commonality of the Neid Fire is that all fires within the community would be extinguished before the new fire was kindled. There were many local traditions depending on local beliefs and superstition e.g location of the Neid Fire; the wood to be used; the method employed etc. In the case of curing ills, damp wood might be added to make copius amounts of smoke and the cattle\people would be paraded through the smoke to "cleanse" them, or in other accounts water is boiled on the fire and then sprinkled over the people\animals. The community would also take a brand from the fire and re-light their hearth fires .
It seems a commonality of the Neid Fire is that all fires within the community would be extinguished before the new fire was kindled. There were many local traditions depending on local beliefs and superstition e.g location of the Neid Fire; the wood to be used; the method employed etc. In the case of curing ills, damp wood might be added to make copius amounts of smoke and the cattle\people would be paraded through the smoke to "cleanse" them, or in other accounts water is boiled on the fire and then sprinkled over the people\animals. The community would also take a brand from the fire and re-light their hearth fires .
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The map to the right shows locations which have been referenced in written accounts that I have come across within my research - these are only from documented accounts - there could be many many more!
Please see my saved Google Map locations for the most up to date map of locations as I'm adding to this all the time as I discover new referenced locations! |
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Aug-25 Update: I have found archived newspaper articles from the 1830s onwards about accounts of Neid Fires across the UK. I will try and spend time one day to go through all the articles! But very exciting as proves it was a widespread practice rather than isolated. See this blog post.
It seems this tradition occurred as recent as until the early to mid 1800s in the highlands of Scotland, and the Fire Gates are still very much used in Russia. In the city of Vologda in Feb 2017, the city administration organised lighting of the Sacred Living Fire "священного живого Огня" using the Fire Gate - see photo to the left and click on photo for the Russian article.
Disappearance of Neid Fire
It seems the disappearance of the Fire Churns throughout Europe was largely due to the church banning the Neid fires as they were seen as heathen: "The history of the need-fire can be traced back to early Middle Ages; for in the reign of Pippin, King of Franks, the practice of kindling need-fires was denounced as a heathen superstition by a synod of prelates and nobles held under the presidency of Boniface, Archbishop of Mainz.689 Not long afterwards the custom was again forbidden, along with many more relics of expiring paganism, in an "Index of Superstitions and Heathenish Observances," which has been usually referred to the year 743 A.D., though some scholars assign it a later date under the reign of Charlemagne" (from The Golden Bough by Sir James Fraser. Though, I've not yet been able to substantiate this and can only find this referenced by Sir James Fraser.)
12-Oct-18 - update: Henry Cowper references the banning of the Nedfri in 742 by the Synodus Francisca in his book "Hawkshead (the northenmost parish of Lancashire)" 1899 (see further below) which is very interesting.
In "Primitive beliefs in the north-east of Scotland" by J.M. McPherson (1875) , McPherson writes of various cases of Neid Fires being dealt with by the Church, including this one "Strathbogie was notorious for it's practice of this heathenish custom, and the Synod of Moray, in 1649, adopted a general rule to be applied to all offenders there - raisers of Neid fire in the Presbytery of Strathbogie were ordained to satisfy 3 days in sackcloth" (pg 30)
It is also interesting to note that the Church turned the "pagan" fire festivals into Christian festivals such as St John's fires (Easter fires) - e.g. the Slavic Kupala festival is now celebrated as the Feast of St John the Baptist.
It seems the disappearance of the Fire Churns throughout Europe was largely due to the church banning the Neid fires as they were seen as heathen: "The history of the need-fire can be traced back to early Middle Ages; for in the reign of Pippin, King of Franks, the practice of kindling need-fires was denounced as a heathen superstition by a synod of prelates and nobles held under the presidency of Boniface, Archbishop of Mainz.689 Not long afterwards the custom was again forbidden, along with many more relics of expiring paganism, in an "Index of Superstitions and Heathenish Observances," which has been usually referred to the year 743 A.D., though some scholars assign it a later date under the reign of Charlemagne" (from The Golden Bough by Sir James Fraser. Though, I've not yet been able to substantiate this and can only find this referenced by Sir James Fraser.)
12-Oct-18 - update: Henry Cowper references the banning of the Nedfri in 742 by the Synodus Francisca in his book "Hawkshead (the northenmost parish of Lancashire)" 1899 (see further below) which is very interesting.
In "Primitive beliefs in the north-east of Scotland" by J.M. McPherson (1875) , McPherson writes of various cases of Neid Fires being dealt with by the Church, including this one "Strathbogie was notorious for it's practice of this heathenish custom, and the Synod of Moray, in 1649, adopted a general rule to be applied to all offenders there - raisers of Neid fire in the Presbytery of Strathbogie were ordained to satisfy 3 days in sackcloth" (pg 30)
It is also interesting to note that the Church turned the "pagan" fire festivals into Christian festivals such as St John's fires (Easter fires) - e.g. the Slavic Kupala festival is now celebrated as the Feast of St John the Baptist.
History and Folklore
For more info on my research into the History and Folklore please go to my research page.
In Europe it seems the Neid Fires and seasonal fires (e.g. Beltaine fires) disappeared in the early to mid 19th century however there has been a resurgence in recent times of some of these festivals....
For more info on my research into the History and Folklore please go to my research page.
In Europe it seems the Neid Fires and seasonal fires (e.g. Beltaine fires) disappeared in the early to mid 19th century however there has been a resurgence in recent times of some of these festivals....
- One of the last known Neid Fires was n Helmsdale (Scotland) in 1818 until a Fire Churn was reconstructed by Tim Knowles as part of an art installation at the Helmsdale Highland Games in 2015 (see more info here.)
- The Beltane (then later Samhain) Fire Festival was re-established in Edinburgh in 1988 which saw the estabishment of the Beltane Fire Society who organise the Beltane and Samhaain Fire Festivals in Edinburgh. They light the starting fire with the bow drill, all other torches and fires are lit from this new fire.
- In Eire there is the Samhain Fire Festival which takes place at Tlachtga on 31st October. Some think Samhain originated at Tlachtga (Hill of Ward) more than 2,000 years ago - sadly I have not come across any written accounts of Neid Fire within Eire but that's not to say it wasn't commonplace!
- Across the Slavs the fire churns are still used within the Slavic Native Faith and I have come across quite a few photos and articles of Neid Fire rituals e.g. as part of Kupula (a Slavic Mid-Summer Fire Festival)
- I have used my own re-interpretations of the Fire Churn at a few communal gatherings over the years.
Neid Fire Pages
- Further details on the Neid Fire apparatus including the components and how they work can be found here : Fire Churn
- References and more information on my research can be found here: Neid Fire Research.