Up Helly Aa 2019 - Shetland Fire Festival

The Guizer Jarl, Thorstein Egilsson ( John Nicolson) and Junior Jarl, Gunnlaug Serpent-tongue (Isaac Young) lead their squads of vikings through the streets of Lerwick on Up Helly Aa morning. This is the first time the public have seen their spectacular suits. Jarl Nicolson has referenced in the detail on the shields his Father and two brothers viking emblems, they have all held the position of Guizer Jarl before John. The Nicolson family have been stalwarts of the festival for many years, making torches for the procession.
It is a still morning with light snow showers and crowds line the streets and follow the parade down to the Alexandra Wharf for the squad's official photos. The Jarl's squad then head to the Lerwick Town Hall where the Guizer Jarl is granted freedom of Lerwick and takes his squad to visit the schools, hospitals and old folks homes through the afternoon before the torchlit procession and burning of the Galley in the evening.
I manage to capture some nice footage of the light up on the Hillhead, my favourite part of the festival. From the dark a maroon is fired and this signals the light up of about 900 torches. The smell of paraffin and the heat add tremendously to the atmosphere and there is a real buzz through the guizers and spectators.
The squads in the procession are headed by the Jarl's squad and lead the Galley to the burning site, singing the Up Helly Aa Song and Galley song on route. The Lerwick Brass Band and Lerwick Legion Pipe Band accompany the processions with marching music throughout the day, their sound synonymous with the festival.
I hope you enjoy the short film and it manages to capture some of the atmosphere in Lerwick. This is just one part of the event. After the burning of the Galley the 47 squads in the procession visit 11 Halls in Lerwick, do an act and have a dance. This is over about 12 hours until breakfast time. Some guizers will continue through the next day and a second night called the Hop.
Film shot with iPhone xs