Shetland, a group of islands in Scotland, have a strong connection of Viking culture. Their famous tradition is the Up Helly Aa festival.
Early in the morning in Lerwick (the capital of Shetland). When it dark outside, a group of men dress like Vikings marched through the town, making lot of noise with drums and shouting, it is a special celebration called up Helly Aa. They build a big Viking boat to burn and it’s a way to say goodbye to winter and remember Shetland’s Viking past. They wore cool Viking clothes like cloaks and helmets. The leader is called the Guizer Jarl, dressed as a famous Viking. This year, for the first time girls were allowed to be part of the Viking group.
“This is our New Year, really – we don’t go in for Hogmanay so much,” said Lyall Gair, who served as Guizer Jarl in 2017 and was helping to marshal this year’s procession. “Burning the galley each year and building a new one is a symbol of starting afresh. But it also gets you through the winter – it’s something to do!”
The Viking boat and the Viking clothes were made by local people. They work from October to January.
“This is supposed to mark the end of our winter, but it never quite does,” Gair said. “So, we just burn, and burn and burn.”
Shetland islands are part of Norway a long time ago and that’s why their culture is like them. The Up Helly Aa festival is one of the examples.
We’re right in the midpoint between Norway, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, America and Scotland. But sometimes we feel more Scandinavian than Scottish
“Shetland is like the Grand Central Station of the waterways,” Shirley Mills, the head of the Shetland Fiddlers’ Society, told “We’re right in the midpoint between Norway, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, America, and Scotland. But sometimes we feel more Scandinavian than Scottish.”
Shetland music is more like Norwegian music. They use fiddles instead of bagpipes. Their folk songs tell stories about magical creatures called Trows, who are similar to Scandinavian trolls.
In January, the Up Helly Aa festival was held in Lerwick. There are many other smaller festivals across the islands that celebrate until March.
Lerwick is home to colorful houses named after Viking kings. There also many places in Iceland with similar names. It shows a strong connection with Viking history.
In Shetland, many people speak speak Shetlandic language, which is similar to old Norse.
In Shetland, long time ago, people spoke Shetlandic language but later people started speaking English and Shetlandic became less. But now people are trying to keep the language live.
Shetland is also known for its beautiful knitwear. People there have been knitting for a very long time, and their patterns are unique.
The Up Helly Aa festival is a big celebration in Shetland. After the boat is burned, people party all night long with music, dancing, and food.
