Balefire:
When people speak of being around a Balefire, lighting a Balefire, or having a Balefire at a circle what they are referring to is a fire lit for magickal purposes.

Balefires are normally rather larger than a normal sized campfire. One does hold a Balefire ritual in the outdoors due to the size and tradition.

The rituals that Balefires are traditionally seen at are rituals connected to the Sabbats of Yule, Beltane, and Midsummer. This is not to say that you cannot hold a Balefire ritual at any time, just that these are the times that they are commonly seen or referred to.