Scotland’s Annual Up Helly Aa Fire Festival Embraces Norse Heritage with Second-ever Inclusion of Women and Girls

The streets of a tiny Scottish town have once again been filled with fire and smoke as hundreds take part in a historic Viking festival. 

Up Helly Aa in Lerwick on the Shetland Islands, is held on the last Tuesday of January every year and celebrates the area’s Norse heritage. 

Participants don Viking-style clothing and carry around 1,000 lit torches through the town. 

The event today marks only the second time that women and girls have been allowed to join the main squad at the head of the procession. 

Each year two torchlight processions take place – one in the morning and a second in the evening. 

The Viking celebrations are filled with fiery symbolism, camaraderie, storytelling and community feasts on the UK’s most northerly islands.

Thousands of visitors travel each year to Shetland to watch the event, which culminates with the dramatic burning of a replica Viking long ship.

Last year, women and girls made history by joining the procession’s main ‘Jarl’ squad for the first time. 

Members of the Up Helly Aa festival’s ‘Jarl Squad’ carry flaming torches through the streets of Lerwick

Participants don Viking-style clothing and carry around 1,000 lit torches through the town

Youngsters take part in the torch procession in the Junior Up Helly Aa in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles

The Viking celebrations are filled with fiery symbolism, camaraderie, storytelling and community feasts

Youngsters take part in the torch procession in the Junior Up Helly Aa in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles

Spectators watch as a replica Viking ship is burned during the junior procession of the Up Helly Aa

Participants in costumes hold flaming torches during the Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands

The leader of the march, known as The Guizer Jarl, parades through the streets during the Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick

It followed a long-running campaign, which had been ongoing since the 1980s, to relax the strict gender rules around Up Helly Aa. 

Jenna Moar, 16, whose father Richard was the chief jarl, was one of the first female participants. 

The voluntary committee that runs the organization consists of 17 members, each chosen by the guizers – individuals who participate in costumes – with the addition of one new member annually.

In 1949, the festival became a highly organised event for the first time, after years of ad-hoc celebrations.

However, the earliest known written record of the Up Helly Aa dates from as far back as 1824. 

It began today with the chief jarl leading his squad through Lewick, dragging the replica ship and singing Up Helly Aa and galley songs.

The procession left the Islesburgh Community Centre at 8.15am before marching down King Harald Street towards the Toll Clock Shopping centre. 

Throughout the morning there were a number of official visits to hospitals, schools and other community spaces. 

Around another 45 squads then joined in the celebrations with the total number of participants usually reaching around 1,000.

Participants, known as the Jarl Squad, take a group photo during the ‘Up Helly Aa’ morning parade on January 28

A replica Viking ship is burned during the junior procession of the Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands

Participants, known as the Jarl Squad take part in the ‘Up Helly Aa’ morning parade

A member of the Up Helly Aa festival’s ‘Jarl Squad’ parades through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands

Members of the Up Helly Aa festival’s ‘Jarl Squad’ parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands

Youngsters take part in the torch procession in the Junior Up Helly Aa in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles

Members of the Up Helly Aa festival’s ‘Jarl Squad’ carry flaming torches through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland

The huge procession began at 7.30pm and culminated with the burning of the replica Viking ship.  

It is believed the ritual echoes the cremation ceremonies of great Norse leaders. 

Alex Macleod, the chief executive of Stornoway Port Authority, was asked to participate in the event. According to STV, he stated: ‘Being selected as a member of this year’s Jarl Squad for Up Helly Aa is a privilege.

‘Up Helly Aa has always been a symbol of Shetland’s vibrant culture and history. Experiencing the enthusiasm and unity of the community firsthand will be a truly remarkable experience.’

‘I’m looking forward to taking part alongside Tom from Montrose Port and the Guizer Jarl Calum Grains from Lerwick Port Authority as we join together in celebrating Shetland’s traditions and continue to build lasting relationships across all three ports.’

The Up Helly Aa festival is held to celebrate the Norse period on the Shetland Islands which lasts for around 600 years. 

The Vikings first landed on the UK’s most northerly isles between 800 and 850 AD and formed part of the Kingdom of Norway until the 15th century.