Famous Up Helly Aa festival sets Shetland’s skies ablaze

Shetland’s skies erupted in a fiery spectacle as the renowned Up Helly Aa festival took place, celebrating Viking heritage with a dramatic torchlight procession and the burning of a replica longship. Local participants, known as “guizers,” illuminated the night with their torches, culminating in the symbolic immolation of a Viking longship replica. This annual event draws considerable attention, showcasing a unique blend of historical tradition and community spirit on the Shetland Islands. The festival’s highlight involves the guizers hurling their blazing torches at the wooden vessel, watching as it is enveloped and consumed by fire. The practice ensures a complete and dramatic destruction of the ship, marking a powerful conclusion to the festivities. The Up Helly Aa is a significant cultural event, embodying the enduring legacy of Shetland’s Norse past.