I magine a celebration with performances, parties and processions in a crazy 24-hour celebration. Reminiscent of Viking traditions, the town goes a little mad and the festivities put Mardi Gras to shame. It’s called “Up Helly Aa”, and it’s definitely a unique event to brighten up the cold winter month of January.
Up Helly Aa has some rowdy traditions. It is over 100 years old, and takes place on the last Tuesday of January every year in the small town of Lerwick, Shetland (just off the coast of Scotland). The tradition dates back to the Napoleonic Wars when soldiers and sailors came home from their travels and needed an excuse to be rowdy and show off their firearms. However, it’s more than an excuse for a sub-arctic bonfire and boozeup. It is now a highly-publicised event involving over four or five thousand spectators. Rumour has it that a group of very educated men in the town of Lerwick came up with the name for the festival. They also thought of other elements including guising (disguising yourself during the processions) and introduced the tradition of a torch light procession.