Northings » up helly aa http://northings.com Cultural magazine for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland Mon, 12 Jan 2015 08:34:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.38 Up Helly Aa: 29 January 2013 http://northings.com/northings_directory/up-helly-aa-25-january-2011/ http://northings.com/northings_directory/up-helly-aa-25-january-2011/#comments Wed, 25 May 2011 10:48:44 +0000 http://northings.com/?post_type=northings_directory&p=11525 Europe’s largest fire festival. Held in Lerwick on the last Tuesday of January, this event begins with a spectacular parade as Viking warriors and guisers march through the town centre with flaming torches, before a replica longship is set alight.

This torchlit procession and galley burning are reminiscent of pagan Norse rituals, where great chieftains were cremated with their treasures. The festival also marks the end of the winter solstice.

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