The term tattoo , employed in the register of the military Music, refers, at the origin, a service of drum S soldiers. It is from now on the designation of Festival S of military musics international.

To the XVIIe century, whereas the British army fought in Europe, in Belgium and with the Netherlands, the drums were sent in the streets of the garrison towns, starting from 21:30 and until 22:00, hour of the curfew, in order to mean with the soldiers who it was the hour to return to quartering. This process, called then Doe den tap toe , as announced to the various bars as it was the hour to cease being useful and to close the doors of their establishments.

With the passing of years, the event became a festival. The musics, orchestras and troops of demonstration transformed this martial habit into a show with projectors and plays of light.

The meetings Tattoo were frequent towards the end of the year 1800 in many garrison towns, including services being able to proceed late in the nights of summer. Between the two World wars the meetings Tattoo became certain extensive in many cities, most famous of then being Aldershot.

Nowadays, one of the festivals most famous is held on the esplanade in front of the castle of Edinburgh (Scotland) in July and is the key point of the International festival of Edinburgh. The first edition of this festival took place in 1950. It combines the traditional sounds of the Cornemuse S and the drum S with the modern harmonies of the military musics. Another festival of this kind, is that of London which was held annually between 1880 and 1999.

See too

• Edinburgh Military Tattoo