Up-Helly-Aa (January 27th, 2026)

Quick facts
When is it?	January 31st, 2023 January 30th, 2024 January 28th, 2025 January 27th, 2026 January 26th, 2027 January 25th, 2028
What's the date pattern?	Last Tuesday in January
What's the official website?	Up-Helly-Aa
Tagged as:	Countries & Cultures Historical Interest Hobbies & Activities
What are the hashtags?	#LerwickUpHellyAa #VikingFestival #ShetlandFireFestival #GuizerJarl #FireFestival #UpHellyAa
When was it founded?	1870s
Who founded it?	Total Abstinence Society
We first published this page on:	Sep 8th, 2024
We last updated this page:	Jan 2nd, 2026

Contents

Up-Helly-Aa is a vibrant fire festival celebrated in the Shetland Islands. Thousands gather to witness the breathtaking sight of a longship ablaze, illuminating the night sky.

Participants dressed as Vikings parade through the streets, adding an air of excitement. The day pulses with energy, from the morning’s activities to the evening’s fiery climax.

It’s a spectacle that draws people together, blending ancient tradition with lively community spirit. The celebration’s high point, the burning of the galley, leaves a lasting impression on everyone who attends.

Up-Helly-Aa Timeline

800 AD

Viking Expansion to British Isles

Norse Viking ships began voyages to the British Isles, greatly influencing the cultures of regions such as the Shetland Islands, which would later play a significant role in cultural heritage celebrations like Up-Helly-Aa.

1469

Shetland Given to Scotland

The Shetland Islands were transferred from Norwegian to Scottish control as part of a royal marriage dowry, integrating Norse and Scottish customs and traditions.

This historical event laid a foundation for the blending cultures celebrated in festivals like Up-Helly-Aa.

1800s

Norse Romanticism Era

During this century, Romanticism sparked renewed interest in Viking history and Norse myths, contributing to cultural revivals seen in festivals across Europe, including those in the Shetland Islands.

1870s

Cultural Shift From Tar-Barrelling

Authorities in Shetland took action to control the dangerous practice of tar-barrelling, a precursor to organized festivals that used fire symbolically, influencing celebrations such as Up-Helly-Aa.

1960s

Heritage Movements in Scotland

A rise in cultural heritage movements during this time helped renew and preserve traditions linked to Norse heritage, impacting community-led festivals across Scotland, especially in the Shetland Islands.

How to Celebrate Up-Helly-Aa

Dress Up as a Viking

Nothing screams Up-Helly-Aa more than donning a Viking costume. Whether you go all out with armor and a helmet or keep it simple with a fur cloak, embracing the Norse spirit is a must.

A fake beard wouldn’t hurt either! Parading around as a Viking adds to the fun and helps you feel part of the celebration.

Join a Torchlight Procession

Get a torch, gather some friends, and march in a torchlight procession. It’s a fiery, fantastic way to participate. Feel the warmth of the flames and the excitement in the air as you join the crowd. If you’re lucky, you might even help set the longship ablaze!

Attend the Galley Burning

Watch in awe as a beautifully crafted longship meets its fiery end. It’s the event’s climax, so grab a good spot early. The flames crackle, and the ship slowly burns to ashes, lighting up the night sky. This is the moment everyone’s been waiting for—don’t miss it!

Learn a Norse Song

Nothing brings people together like a good sing-along. Pick up a traditional Norse song and belt it out with friends. You don’t need to be in tune—enthusiasm is what counts. Bonus points if you sing it while waving a torch!

Feast Like a Viking

After all that excitement, it’s time to feast. Prepare a hearty meal worthy of a Viking celebration. Roasted meats, hearty stews, and maybe a bit of mead should do the trick. Gather around a big table, eat with gusto, and share tales of bravery and adventure!

Significance of the Festival

Up-Helly-Aa honors Shetland’s Norse heritage. The festival marks the end of winter and the return of light. It’s a time for the community to come together and celebrate their shared history.

The event also highlights the islanders’ strong ties to their Viking ancestors. It’s a proud expression of cultural identity that has evolved over generations, creating a tradition that continues to unite and inspire the people of Shetland today.

History of Up-Helly-Aa

Up-Helly-Aa originated in the 19th century on the Shetland Islands to mark the end of the Yule season. The local people, influenced by their strong Norse heritage, sought to create a celebration that honored their ancestors. In its earliest days, the festival was quite chaotic.

Young men would drag barrels of burning tar through the streets, creating fiery scenes that sometimes led to accidents and disorder. These rowdy celebrations eventually prompted the community to rethink how they marked the occasion.

By the 1870s, a group of local leaders, including the Total Abstinence Society, decided to bring some order to the festivities. They formed a committee to plan and organize the event, which led to the creation of the first Viking-style longship. The burning of this galley became the centerpiece of the celebration.

Over time, the festival evolved, incorporating more elements of Shetland’s Norse past. Today, Up-Helly-Aa is a well-organized, vibrant festival that not only celebrates the end of winter but also showcases the islanders’ pride in their rich cultural history.

Facts About Up-Helly-Aa

Viking Revival Imagery

Up-Helly-Aa utilizes Viking imagery, such as the burning of a replica longship and the leadership of a character called the Guizer Jarl.

This incorporation of Norse motifs began in the late 19th century as part of a festive reinvention of older Yule customs.

Tar Barrelling Origins

The roots of Up-Helly-Aa can be traced back to the 19th-century tradition of ‘tar barrelling’, where young men would drag burning barrels through the streets, a chaotic celebration that eventually evolved into the organized festival seen today.

Community Volunteerism

Up-Helly-Aa is organized entirely by volunteers, showcasing community spirit.

The festival involves significant preparation, including the crafting of the galley and torches, and draws participation from thousands of locals and visitors.

Norse Inspiration Over Continuity

While the festival prominently features Norse themes, including costumes and rituals, it does not trace directly back to ancient Norse celebrations. These elements are part of a Victorian-era reimagining aimed at celebrating Shetland’s heritage.

Skaldic Satire and Entertainment

Post-procession events include humorous skits and performances by guizer squads, an element inspired by the satirical poetry and performances seen in Viking culture, adding a layer of cultural homage and entertainment.

Up-Helly-Aa FAQs

Why is fire a significant element in Viking and Norse traditions?

Fire played a crucial role in Viking and Norse rituals, symbolizing purification, renewal, and the transition between life and the afterlife.

Fire rituals, like ship burning, were intended to honor the deceased and guide them to the afterlife, reflecting broader themes of life cycles and celestial cycles.

Such practices resonate with the symbolic use of fire in Up-Helly-Aa today.

How is the Norse concept of ship burials reflected in the Up-Helly-Aa festival?

The burning of a replica Viking longship during Up-Helly-Aa echoes the Norse tradition of ship burials, where ships were set ablaze as a funerary rite for high-ranking individuals, symbolizing their voyage to the afterlife.

This element of the festival underscores its grounding in Norse heritage and emphasizes themes of honor and commemoration.

What cultural influences shaped the broader context for Up-Helly-Aa’s Norse-themed elements?

Up-Helly-Aa has been influenced by a mix of local Shetland customs and Norse elements.

While originally evolving from practices like tar-barrelling, it has incorporated Viking-themed motifs as part of a cultural revival that celebrates Shetland’s Norse roots, inspired by broader historical cultural influences during the Victorian era.

What does the torch-lit procession signify in the context of Up-Helly-Aa?

The torch-lit procession signifies the continuation of fire rituals that marked the end of winter and celebrated the return of light.

This procession involves participants carrying torches and echoes historical ceremonies that honored the sun’s return and symbolized the renewal of life and community bonds.

How does Up-Helly-Aa symbolize the end of the Yule season?

Up-Helly-Aa marks the conclusion of the Yule season, which in traditional Norse culture, symbolized the end of winter’s darkness and the return of the sun.

This festival combines elements of fire and celebration to encapsulate themes of renewal and community spirit, continuing a tradition that aligns with historical Norse celebrations.