The Shetland Islands of Scotland are a sleepy, quiet place, until the last Tuesday in January every year. Engage in a fiery blaze of spectacle and tradition in Lerwick, Shetland, on Jan. 30, 2018, during the Up Helly Aa festival. This epic tradition enlists the help of thousands of people working yearlong in preparation for the one-day and -night event.
Beginning at the stroke of 7:30 p.m., rockets signal over Town Hall and torches are lit, signaling the band to begin. The band begins playing and marching in a half-mile procession in a fury. Participants reenact stories of Viking Islander lore with visual storytelling, epic bonfires and heavy drinking.
Themes vary each year, but the main focus is always on the main event, which included a procession of 800 brawny Vikings dragging the Jarls to the burning site, through a crowd of about 5,000 spectators.
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