Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into a longboat.
Vikings take to the streets of Lerwick. (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)
Roaring success: Up Helly Aa has been going since 1881. (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)
Vi-kids: young particpants in the Lerwick festival. (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)
If you thought some of the hats at Glastonbury looked strange… (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)
…but you probably wouldn’t say anything sarcastic about their hats to these guys. (Danny Lawson/PA)
The Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or ‘Guizer Jarl’ on a Viking ship. (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)
The viking galley is surrounded by members of the Jarl Squad. (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)
It’s one way to keep warm on a winter’s evening… (Danny Lawson/PA)
Ring of fire at the Up Helly Aa festival. (Danny Lawson/PA)
The galley is set on fire towards the end of the festival. (Danny Lawson/PA)
The axe falls as the ship is engulfed in flames. (Danny Lawson/PA)
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