Gordon Lennox captured the scene from last year's festival
The Burning of the Clavie is a celebration of the ancient Scots Hogmanay, which fell on January 11 before the Gregorian calendar was introduced in Britain in the 18th century.
The unique fire festival is believed to date back to 400AD, when Burghead was the capital of the ancient Pictish kingdom.
Clavie King, Dan Ralph, who has overseen proceedings since 1988, said the ceremony’s popularity centred on its strict adherence to time-honoured customs.
He maintained there would never be “a trace of anything modern about it”.
The event was forced into abeyance during the Second World War, because of the need for blackouts at night.
But it was relaunched in 1946 by a trio of respected Brochers, whose descendants now comprise part of the Clavie Crew.
Many villagers recognise the Burning of the Clavie as the “true” beginning of the year, and hundreds return home from far and wide every January 11 to take part.
Following last night’s parade, the village hosted an evening of revelries celebrating the event with bar opening times extended into the early hours.
The Burning of the Clavie: Everything you need to know
