Guernsey Press

Norse code: Keeping the flame at the Up Helly Aa festival

The festival takes place in Lerwick, Shetland, on the last Tuesday in January every year.

Published

Revellers have gathered on Shetland for the annual Up Helly Aa fire festival.

The event marks the end of the Yule season in Nordic culture, and features “guizers” in Viking costume marching through Lerwick, bearing torches.

The event culminated in the burning of an imitation Viking galley in Lerwick harbour amid spectacular scenes.

Up Helly Aa festival
More than 1,000 torches were lit (Jane Barlow/PA)
Up Helly Aa festival
Preparations to torch the galley (Jane Barlow/PA)
Up Helly Aa festival
Youngsters take part in the torch procession (Jane Barlow/PA)
Up Helly Aa festival
The festival originates in the 1880s (Jane Barlow/PA)
Up Helly Aa festival
Members of the Jarl Squad parade through Lerwick (Jane Barlow/PA)
A phalanx of Vikings on the streets of Lerwick
More than 1,000 torches are lit on the last Tuesday in January as two processions, one in the morning and a second in the evening, take place (Jane Barlow/PA)
A man in Viking costume with a red beard grins
Guizer Jarl Calum Grains, the leader of the Jarl Squad, appeared on the galley in Lerwick harbour with his daughter Colleen, 19, and son Ian, 16 (Jane Barlow/PA)
A Viking calls out to his squad
The event has changed over many years, with women now allowed to participate within Jarl Squads in Lerwick as of 2023 (Jane Barlow/PA)
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