Archive for January 28th, 2009

Thousands celebrate Up Helly Aa

Europe’s biggest annual fire festival has been staged in Shetland.

Known as Up Helly Aa, it celebrates the islands’ Viking heritage with a torch-lit procession and the spectacular burning of a replica galley.

This year it was led by a 60-strong band of latter-day Viking warriors known as the Jarl Squad led by the Viking chief or Guizer Jarl.