Up Helly Aa

Name: Up Helly Aa
Start: 2025-01-27
Location: Lerwick

A Night When Fire and Viking Pride Blaze in Shetland

2026/01/26

Every January, the Shetland Islands at the northernmost tip of Scotland are set ablaze with the flames of Up Helly Aa. This grand fire festival, rooted in Viking tradition and community pride, lights up the winter darkness as over a thousand torch-bearing “guizers” parade in Norse costumes through the streets of Lerwick, culminating in the burning of a handmade Viking longship. Whether you’re a history buff, a festival lover, or a seeker of unforgettable winter adventures, Up Helly Aa is an experience that stirs all the senses and the soul.

The clang of axes, the glint of chainmail, the scent of paraffin, the roar of flames… Up Helly Aa vividly brings Shetland’s past and present to life. From the children’s junior festival to the veteran Jarl Squad, people from across the islands unite to create a night of song, fire, and jubilation.

Main Attractions

The Torchlit Procession and Viking Ship Burning

The heart of the festival is the torchlit procession. After dark, up to 1,000 guizers (costumed participants) march through Lerwick’s streets, carrying paraffin-soaked torches. At the front, the Guizer Jarl and his Jarl Squad appear in authentic Viking regalia. The procession winds through the town, forming a circle around the handmade Viking galley, where everyone sings together before hurling their torches into the ship, engulfing it in flames. Sparks and cheers soar into the night sky in a breathtaking climax.

Squads, Costumes, and Secret Themes

Up Helly Aa is also famous for its costumes and secrecy. Each year, dozens of squads (groups of friends or colleagues) create their own themed costumes, ranging from historical to satirical and wildly creative. The Jarl Squad, led by the Guizer Jarl, wears the most elaborate Viking outfits, complete with helmets, axes, and shields. The Norse saga character and theme chosen by the Jarl are kept secret until the day, heightening anticipation. The Viking ship itself is handmade over months and adorned with Norse decorations.

Halls, Ceilidhs, and All-Night Revelry

After the galley burning, the festivities move to decorated community halls across town. Squads visit each hall in turn, performing songs, dances, and comedy sketches. With plenty of local humour and whisky, the ceilidh (Scottish dance party), feasting, and laughter continue until dawn. The following “Hop Night” brings even more parties, chasing away the winter blues.

Cultural and Historical Background

The origins of Up Helly Aa date back to the 19th century, but its history has constantly evolved, shaped by the creativity of the community. In the early 1800s, Lerwick’s young men would mark the end of Yule (the winter festival) by dragging burning tar barrels through the narrow streets, setting off homemade fireworks, and sometimes clashing with the police. These wild celebrations were meant to drive away winter’s darkness and welcome spring, but by the 1870s, concerns over safety and a desire for more meaningful festivities led to reform.

Around 1870, a group of progressive young townsmen breathed new life into the festival. They established the name “Up Helly Aa” (from the Old Norse “helly” meaning holiday), moved the event to late January, and introduced guizing (costume disguises). The first torchlit procession was held, transforming the festival into a grand public event. The now-iconic Viking theme gradually took hold, and in 1889, the first replica Viking galley was built and burned, inspired by Norse funeral rites of sending a ship to Valhalla.

From the late 19th to early 20th century, the festival continued to grow. The role of Guizer Jarl (Viking chief) appeared in the early 1900s, and by the 1920s, Viking squads became a regular feature. The “Up Helly Aa Song,” written in 1905, and the burning of the galley became the night’s dramatic climax.

After World War II, Up Helly Aa became even more organized, with broader community participation. BBC broadcasts spread its fame beyond Shetland, and more people joined in. Today, hundreds of volunteers spend months building the galley, making costumes, and preparing the halls.

For the people of Shetland, Up Helly Aa is far more than a fire festival. It’s a living tradition symbolizing identity, resilience, and community pride. The ceremony’s flames mark the end of Yule and the hope of a new season, uniting the islands in a night of memory and renewal. Whether you’re a lifelong islander or a first-time visitor, standing before the torchlit procession and burning galley, you can feel the pulse of Shetland’s history and the warmth of its people. In recent years, women and girls have also begun to lead squads, reflecting the festival’s growing inclusivity.