I headed north to the Shetland isles for the famous fire festival Up Helly aa .For many years I wanted to see this for real . Bruce [a good friend of ours] lives in Lerwick which is Shetland`s capital. He kindly invited us up to stay at his home and give us a local`s guide to Up Helly Aa. Bruce had taken part in Up Helly Aa himself so he had the knowledge to let us know all about Shetlands Fire Festival.
We arrived at Sunburgh and Bruce was there to give us a lift right into Lerwick. We were really grateful as a taxi would have cost around £40. After about 40mins we arrive in Lerwick. We went straight to see the see the Galley.
The Up Helly Aa committee had spent the last year preparing the boat. It always has a Dragons head on it to represent the days when the Vikings brought terror where ever they went. As you can see the weather was a bit wet and windy but you got the feeling this added to the event. It is always held on the last Tuesday in January so if want to go to Up Helly Aa wrap up warm. There is never a postponement. It's held in mid-winter on the same latitude as southern Greenland but the show must go on.
After seeing the Galley in its Glory we head to Bruce`s mum. She makes us most welcome . There we have mutton soup . Superb Just what you need before a long night of enjoyment. After two bowls we head out to see the main event with a great lining in our stomach. It was going to be a long night.
On the stroke of 7.30pm, a rocket bursts over the Town Hall. The torches are lit, the band strikes up and the amazing, blazing procession begins, snaking half a mile astern of the Guizer Jarl, standing proudly at the helm of his doomed replica longship, or 'galley'. The Jarl is the leader of the procession.
On the stroke of 7.30pm, a rocket bursts over the Town Hall. The torches are lit, the band strikes up and the amazing, blazing procession begins, snaking half a mile astern of the Guizer Jarl, standing proudly at the helm of his doomed replica longship, or 'galley'. The Jarl is the leader of the procession.
Being the Jarl is a great honour and the proudist moment of a Shetlanders life.
It takes half an hour for the Jarl's squad of burly Vikings to drag the galley to the burning site, through a crowd of four or five thousand spectators.
It takes half an hour for the Jarl's squad of burly Vikings to drag the galley to the burning site, through a crowd of four or five thousand spectators.
In the evening of Up Helly Aa , over 800 heavily-disguised men (no women, thank you, we're vikings!) form ranks in the darkened streets. They shoulder stout fencing posts, topped with paraffin-soaked sacking.
The squads dress up in all kinds of fancydress and must do a sketch at the halls later. The Jarl squad are dressed as Vikings. Bruce now directs us to a prime position to see the Galley`s final moments.
After a short time more then 900 guizers arrive at King george park.
Then everyone sings the Norsemans home and the Galley is set alight
The squads dress up in all kinds of fancydress and must do a sketch at the halls later. The Jarl squad are dressed as Vikings. Bruce now directs us to a prime position to see the Galley`s final moments.
After a short time more then 900 guizers arrive at King george park.
Then everyone sings the Norsemans home and the Galley is set alight
Lerwick 2010
We then head to the British Legion to enjoy such a special evening.We were fortunate that Bruce got us tickets for this event. As the night rolls on and more than 40 squads of guizers visit the hall.
At every hall each squad performs its 'act', perhaps a skit on local events, a dance display in spectacular costume, or a topical send-up of a popular TV show or pop group.
Every guizer has a duty (as the 'Up Helly Aa Song' says) to dance with at least one of the ladies in the hall, before taking yet another dram, soaked up with vast quantities of mutton soup and bannocks.
Bruce`s dad had the honour to be part of the Jarl Squad this year. When we met up him he was looking very well considering he had been on the go since 08.30 in the morning. Around 08.00 in the morning we head home . What a night. I have travelled a bit now and seen some great events . Up Helly Aa is up there with the best . The people were so friendly ,helpful and it`s one festival hopefully I will return to in the future.
We then head to the British Legion to enjoy such a special evening.We were fortunate that Bruce got us tickets for this event. As the night rolls on and more than 40 squads of guizers visit the hall.
At every hall each squad performs its 'act', perhaps a skit on local events, a dance display in spectacular costume, or a topical send-up of a popular TV show or pop group.
Every guizer has a duty (as the 'Up Helly Aa Song' says) to dance with at least one of the ladies in the hall, before taking yet another dram, soaked up with vast quantities of mutton soup and bannocks.
Bruce`s dad had the honour to be part of the Jarl Squad this year. When we met up him he was looking very well considering he had been on the go since 08.30 in the morning. Around 08.00 in the morning we head home . What a night. I have travelled a bit now and seen some great events . Up Helly Aa is up there with the best . The people were so friendly ,helpful and it`s one festival hopefully I will return to in the future.
Up Helly Aa 2016 is on Tuesday 26 th January 2016.
Viking descendants form a torchlight procession before sacrificing a longship at the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands. The festival, which began in 1870, celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands. Shetland and neighbouring island Orkney were ruled by the Norse for about 500 years until they became part of Scotland in 1468.
Thanks to Bruce and his family for their kindness
