Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo facts for kids

The 2010 Edinburgh Military Tattoo

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a big show held every year. It features amazing performances by military bands and artistic groups from the British Armed Forces, countries in the Commonwealth, and other nations. They perform on the Esplanade, which is a large open area outside Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. This exciting event happens every August as part of the Edinburgh Festivals.

History of the Tattoo

What "Tattoo" Means

The 2022 Edinburgh Military Tattoo pipes and drums

The word tattoo comes from a Dutch phrase from the 1600s. It was doe den tap toe, meaning "turn off the tap." This was a signal played by drummers to tell tavern owners to stop serving drinks. Soldiers then knew it was time to go back to their homes for the night. Later, "tattoo" became the name for the last military music call of the day. It also described a special evening show by military musicians.

How the Tattoo Started

The first public military show in Edinburgh was in 1949. It was called "Something About a Soldier" and took place in Princes Street Gardens. The very first official Edinburgh Military Tattoo happened in 1950. It had eight different acts. About 6,000 people watched from simple seats around the Edinburgh Castle esplanade. By 2018, the stands could hold 8,800 people each night. This meant 220,000 people could watch the live shows in total.

Growing Audience

Since the 1970s, about 220,000 people watch the Tattoo live each year. This is 8,800 people every evening. The Tattoo sold out for 22 years in a row, starting in 1998. This streak ended when the shows in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled. These cancellations happened because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The stands being set up for the 2022 Tattoo

In 2020, about 30% of the audience came from Scotland. Another 32% came from other parts of the United Kingdom. The remaining 38% were visitors from 69 different countries. New spectator stands were built in 2011. They cost £16 million. These new stands can be set up and taken down much faster. This allows the castle esplanade to be used for other events during the year.

Amazing Performances

The 2022 Edinburgh Military Tattoo highland dancers

The Tattoo takes place every weekday evening in August. There are also two shows on Saturdays. The show has never been cancelled because of bad weather. However, the shows in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2010, the event became the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This "Royal" title was given by Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate 60 years of the show.

Since 2012, every performance has ended with a fantastic fireworks display. From 2005 to 2015, special lights and sounds were projected onto the castle. In 2016, the projection technology was updated. This allowed for amazing projection mapping on the castle walls. In 2018, laser technology was used for the first time, adding even more sparkle!

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo also performs free, shorter shows. These are called "Taste of the Tattoo." They happen at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens. Since 2008, they have also been held in George Square in Glasgow. The Tattoo has also travelled overseas. It visited New Zealand in 2000 for its 50th anniversary. It went to Australia in 2005 and again in 2010. In 2016, the Tattoo sold 240,000 tickets for shows in Wellington, New Zealand, and Melbourne, Australia. It also performed in Sydney in 2019.

The Bonnie Lass o' Fyvie being performed at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2007

As of 2021, Anne, Princess Royal is the main supporter of the event. Edinburgh Airport is the main company that sponsors the show.

Watching Around the World

In 2018, the Tattoo was shown on TV in 40 countries. This meant 100 to 300 million people could watch it worldwide. In Britain, the BBC broadcasts the event every year. In Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) usually shows the Tattoo on New Year's Eve.

The Tattoo is run for charitable reasons. By 2017, it had given £10 million to arts, military, and other charities. These include groups like the Army Benevolent Fund. The event also brings in up to £100 million for Edinburgh's economy each year.

How the Show Works

Each performance starts with a special fanfare, which is a short, loud piece of music. Then, the Massed Pipes and Drums march through the castle gate. They play traditional pipe band music. After this, the main acts of the show perform one by one.

Amazing Performers

The 2005 Edinburgh Military Tattoo celebrated Trafalgar 200

Bands from the British Armed Forces usually perform. They also have special drill and display teams. Sometimes, bands from all three services (Army, Navy, Air Force) perform together. This happened in 2002 and 2012 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's special anniversaries.

From 1950 to 1994, the show mostly featured military groups. But since 1995, civilian acts have also been included. At first, some fans didn't like this change. However, civilian acts are now a big part of the show. One very popular group is the Top Secret Drum Corps from Basel. They have performed many times, including in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2022. By 2018, performers from 48 countries had been part of the Tattoo.

Since 2014, a special "house" pipe band was created. This allows pipers and drummers from Scotland and around the world to play in the Tattoo. This group is called The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums. They join the massed pipes and drums each year. They are the first pipe band without military connections to play in the Tattoo.

Banda Monumental de Mexico at Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022

For the 2019 show, a stage band was formed with volunteer musicians from all over the world. The 2022 show included Banda Monumental de Mexico and the United States Army Field Band, which was their first time at the Tattoo. Other performers included the Highland Divas, the New Zealand Army Band, and the United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill team.

Guards of Honour

The soldiers who guard the Castle Drawbridge are usually from the local infantry battalion. Other military units are also invited to provide guards for the Drawbridge. They also form the guard of honour for the show's grand finale. Some of these units have included:

See also

• Basel Tattoo
• Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo