In Lerwick, the capital of Scotland's Shetland Islands, a fire festival named Up Helly Aa is held every January to mark the end of the yule season. Local participants called guizers celebrate their Norse heritage, dressing in Viking gear and marching through town with battle axes and torches as they drag a ceremonial Viking longboat. At the end of the procession, the guizers hurl their torches onto the longboat and set it ablaze. After the flames die down, guizers sing the traditional song "The Norseman's Home" before a night of partying.
Up Helly Aa
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Read moreFlames engulf a viking longboat as it is set on fire during the Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreParticipants dressed as Vikings prepare to participate in the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreA young participant dressed as a Viking prepares for Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreA man dressed as a Viking has his hair braided for Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreParticipants, guizers, dressed as Vikings prepare for Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreGuizers march during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreYoung Jarl Squad vikings shout as they march through the streets on the morning of the Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreMembers of the 2013 "Jarl Squad" during the Up Helly Aa procession on the Shetland Islands, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreJarl Squad vikings shout during Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreMembers of the Jarl Squad light torches during Up Helly Aa, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreGuizer Jarl Stephen Grant stands on a doomed Viking longboat before it is set on fire during the Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreMembers of the Jarl Squad circle the longboat with torches during Up Helly Aa, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreMembers of the Jarl Squad light more torches during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreThe Jarl Squad starts throwing torches at the longboat during Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreDuring Up Helly Aa, a Viking longboat starts to go up in flames, in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreA members of the Jarl Squad watches the longboat burn, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreFlames engulf the longboat during Up Helly Aa, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreEmbers from the burning longboat blow past members of the 2013 Jarl Squad in Lerwick, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreThe Jarl Squad, during Up Helly Aa, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreThe Viking longboat is consumed by fire in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, on January 29, 2013. #
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Read moreFlames engulf the dragon's head of the viking longboat as it burns during the Up Helly Aa fire festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland, on January 29, 2013. #
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