In Pictures: Viking fire festival lights up Shetland

PA

Crowds gathered in Shetland on Tuesday for the world-famous Up Helly Aa fire festival.

People dressed as Vikings march through the streets of Lerwick to recreate its ancient Viking past in a tradition dating back to the 19th century.

The procession is led by the Guizer Jarl, or chief guizer, and culminates in a replica longboat being set alight.

Guizer Jarl John Nicolson and his squad march through Lerwick as snow falls on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Guizer Jarl John Nicolson and his squad march through Lerwick as snow falls on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Guizer Jarl John Nicolson cheers whilst marching through Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Guizer Jarl John Nicolson cheers whilst marching through Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Members of the Jarl Squad cheers as they march through Lerwick as snow falls on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Members of the Jarl Squad cheers as they march through Lerwick as snow falls on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival

Shetland and neighbouring Orkney were ruled by the Norse for about 500 years until they became part of Scotland in 1468.

The festival stems from the 1870s when a group of young local men wanted to put new ideas into Shetland’s Christmas celebrations.

Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Jarl Squad member David Simpson has a cup of tea before marching through Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Jarl Squad member David Simpson has a cup of tea before marching through Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Guizer Jarl John Nicolson cheers whilst on the galley after marching through Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Guizer Jarl John Nicolson cheers whilst on the galley after marching through Lerwick on the Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Up Helly Aa Viking Festival
Guizer Jarl John Nicolson and his squad march through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Guizer Jarl John Nicolson and his squad march through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
A flare is fired to light the torches of the Jarl Squad as they march through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
A flare is fired to light the torches of the Jarl Squad as they march through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
The Galley is set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
The Galley is set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
A squad member carries a torch as he marches through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festiva
A squad member carries a torch as he marches through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festiva
A flare is fired to light the torches of the Jarl Squad as they march through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
A flare is fired to light the torches of the Jarl Squad as they march through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Members of the Jarl Squad march beside the Galley as they head through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival
Members of the Jarl Squad march beside the Galley as they head through Lerwick ahead of the Galley being set on fire on Shetland Isles during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival

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