Up Helly Aa

On the stroke of 19:30, a rocket fired into the sky is the signal for them to light up their torches. Then the blazing procession begins, with almost a thousand people marching, led by a large squad of Vikings; the Jarl Squad. 

Up Helly Aa is the biggest of the fire festivals that take place in the winter months in Shetland. This Viking themed fire festival takes place in Lerwick on the last Tuesday of January.

The day involves a series of marches and visitations and in the evening is the most famous part – the torch-lit procession and Galley burning.

Lighting up the torches at Up Helly Aa
Lighting up the torches at Up Helly Aa photo © Copyright Charles Tait

At 18:50, the participants, known as Guizers (because they are in disguise), will gather to receive their torches. On the stroke of 19:30, a rocket fired into the sky is the signal for them to light up their torches. Then the blazing procession begins, with almost a thousand people marching, led by a large squad of Vikings; the Jarl Squad.

The Jarl on his galley during Lerwick Up Helly Aa
The Jarl on his galley during Lerwick Up Helly Aa photo © Copyright Billy Fox

The Jarl Squad march, pulling a Viking Galley with their leader – the Guizer Jarl – standing on top. When the Galley reaches the burning site, the torchbearers form a circle round it and sing the traditional Up Helly Aa song. Another rocket is fired and the Guizer Jarl leaves the ship. A bugle call sounds, and the torches are hurled into the galley!

The burning galley and the flames in the January winds are quite a sight to see.

>> The live stream of Lerwick Up Helly Aa 2024 can be viewed on the NorthLink Ferries Facebook page.

Dates for all Shetland Fire festivals are as follows –

  • Scalloway Fire Festival – (Second Friday of January) 12th January 2024
  • Lerwick Up Helly Aa – (Last Tuesday of January) 30th January 2024
  • Lerwick Junior Up Helly Aa – (Last Tuesday of January) 30th January 2024
  • Nesting & Girlsta Up Helly Aa – (10 days after Lerwick festival) 9th February 2024
  • Uyeasound Up Helly Aa – (Third Friday of February) Postponed until 2025
  • Northmavine Up Helly Aa – (Third Friday of February) 16th February 2024
  • Cullivoe Up Helly Aa – (Last Friday of February) 23rd February 2024
  • Norwick Up Helly Aa – (Last Saturday of February) 24th February 2024
  • Bressay Up Helly Aa – (Usually Last Friday of February) 1st March 2024
  • South Mainland Up Helly Aa – (Second Friday of March) 8th March 2024
  • Delting Up Helly Aa – (Third Friday of March) 15th March 2024
  • Walls Junior Up Helly Aa – (usually Fourth Friday of March) tbc 2024
Header image: Lerwick during Up Helly Aa photo © Copyright Nick McCaffrey