How many Up Helly Aa are there in Shetland?

Up Helly Aa is the name of a spectacular Shetland Viking festival which always takes place on the last Tuesday of January. The main celebration of Up Helly Aa takes place in Lerwick but there are 12 smaller local versions too all over the Shetland Isles.

What is Shetland Up Helly Aa?

What is Lerwick Up Helly Aa? Lerwick Up Helly Aa is a superb spectacle, a celebration of Shetland history, and a triumphant demonstration of islanders’ skills and spirit. This northern Mardi Gras, run entirely by volunteers, lasts just one day (and all the following night).

When was Up Helly Aa Cancelled?

This means the last event was January 28, 2020, before the pandemic. The event is rarely postponed or cancelled the last time — before the pandemic — was 1965 where it was postponed one week because of Winston Churchill’s death.

What Up Helly Aa means?

Up Helly Aa (/ˌʌp hɛli ˈɑː/ UP-hel-ee-AH; literally “Up Holy [Day] All”) is a type of fire festival held annually from January to March in various communities in Shetland, Scotland to mark the end of the Yule season.

What date is Up Helly Aa 2020?

last Tuesday in January
Welcome to the official website for Up Helly Aa, which takes place in Lerwick, Shetland, on the last Tuesday in January every year. Up Helly Aa day involves a series of marches and visitations, culminating in a torch-lit procession and the burning of a galley.

What is a HAA in Scotland?

A “haa” was a laird’s house, and a number were built across Shetland from the 1600s onwards. They tend to be characterised by a sense of solidity and permanence, and the Haa of Tangwick is no exception.

How do I get to Shetland?

Getting to the Shetland Islands requires taking a ferry from mainland Scotland. Ferries are very comfortable and well-run, with a smooth overnight passage from Aberdeen to Lerwick. We took that route up to Shetland, and a different route — to the Orkney Islands — on the way back.

Is Shetland Irish or Scottish?

Lying roughly 100 miles off the north east coast of Scotland, the Shetland Islands are the northern-most tip of Scotland. The islands separate the Atlantic Ocean, on the west, from the North Sea on the east.

Where does the Up Helly Aa festival take place?

Up Helly Aa is a fire festival which is currently celebrated annually at 11 locations throughout Shetland, involving 12 Up Helly Aa Festivals. The longest running, largest and most well known is held in Lerwick on the last Tuesday in January, and is the most synonymous with the term ‘Up Helly Aa’.

Who are the volunteers for Up Helly Aa?

Up Helly Aa is a community event, with countless volunteers contributing many hours each winter towards organising and planning the following year’s festival. The Guizer Jarl and his squad begin their preparations in February, and many long hours of hard work go into the design and production of their fabulous outfits.

Is there a fixed date for Up Helly Aa?

The only Up Helly Aa date that is fixed is Lerwick – the others may not happen each year and the dates may vary – but the usual dates for all the festivals currently celebrated (in the order they occur), are shown below: Original “Tar Barrel” ban notice, dated 12 December 1874, now housed at Shetland Museum. Photo by Kozetland1.

When is Up Helly Aa day in Shetland?

Welcome to the official website for Up Helly Aa, which takes place in Lerwick, Shetland, on the last Tuesday in January every year. Up Helly Aa day involves a series of marches and visitations, culminating in a torch-lit procession and the burning of a galley.