BACKGROUND
1. Up Helly Aa Fire Festival, Scotland
Photo credit: David Gifford / shetland.org
Where: Most cities across the Shetland Islands, Scotland
When: January 28th, 2020
Each year, on the last tuesday in January, the Vikings come to town! Up Helly Aa is a Viking-themed festival that is celebrated in most cities in Shetland Islands.
BASICS
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Photo credit: Vicky Brock via Flickr
Self-proclaimed as Europe’s largest fire festival, the 24-hour event features performing acts, marches, and a torch-lit procession. The festival culminates with the throwing of the torches into a Viking longship and watching the galley burn in the dead of night.1. Up Helly Aa Fire Festival, Scotland
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Photo credit: David Gifford / shetland.org
Where: Most cities across the Shetland Islands, Scotland
When: January 28th, 2020
Each year, on the last Tuesday in January, the Vikings come to town! Up Helly Aa is a Viking-themed festival that is celebrated in most cities in the Shetland Islands. However, the biggest festivities take place in Lerwick, paying a tribute to the islanders’ Viking heritage (Vikings controlled the archipelago for over 500 years until 1468).