The stands to the left of the castle esplanade were in place for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo which had just completed the weekend before this photo was taken. The word "tattoo" is derived from "doe den tap toe," or just "tap toe" ("toe" is pronounced "too"), Dutch for "last orders." Translated literally, it means: "put the tap to," or "close or turn off the tap." The British adopted the practice and it became a signal, played by a regiment's Corps of Drums or Pipes and Drums each night to tavern owners to turn off the taps of their ale kegs so that the soldiers would retire to their billeted lodgings at a reasonable hour. With the establishment of modern barracks and full military bands later in the 18th century, the term "tattoo" was used to describe not only the last duty call of the day, but also a ceremonial form of evening entertainment performed by military musicians. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an annual series of military tattoos performed by British Armed Forces, commonwealth and international military bands and display teams in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. The event takes place annually throughout August, as part of a wider Edinburgh Festival.