Should you find yourself in Lerwick, Scotland, on the last Tuesday of January, you’ll witness a celebration to mark the end of Yule called Up Helly Aa. Here in the Shetland Islands, off the northern coast of Britain, the cultural influence of the Vikings is still felt. And when the Yule season comes to a close, many Shetlanders dress up like Vikings—it’s a tradition called ‘guising,’ short for ‘disguise.’ In their Viking costumes, they march the streets of Lerwick singing songs and delivering short comedic performances. Ultimately, a torchlight procession ends with the marchers setting a fake Viking galley ship ablaze. The name ‘Up Helly Aa’ is roughly translated as Up Holy All, an invitation for all to rise and join in the holiday revelry.
A winter’s holiday ends
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Jan van Eyckplein in Bruges, Belgium
-
Innerdalsvatna Lake, near Ålvundeidet, Norway
-
A truly American monument
-
Reflecting on one of the world s strangest rivers
-
Spring awakens
-
Antarctica Day
-
Bangkok, Thailand
-
Presidents hear the echo of history
-
Winter in England s Cotswolds
-
A place called ‘Peace’ in India
-
Star Wars Day
-
American bison
-
Happy Star Wars Day!
-
Welcome to El Cervantino
-
Sky island views
-
Celebrating Flag Day
-
Languid life on the Lakes
-
The eloquence of elephants
-
The tale of squirrels like Nutkin
-
International Day of the Tropics
-
Cloughoughter Castle, County Cavan, Ireland
-
Walk the line
-
Spreadsheet Day
-
Chilling out in the Arctic
-
Río Arazas in Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Spain
-
Best fronds forever
-
World Lizard Day
-
Darwin Day
-
Borrego Badlands
-
Australian baobab tree, Kimberley region, Western Australia