Next Tuesday will be Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Shetland.
It will be live streamed on here- https://www.uphellyaa.com/
This web site seems to be a wonderful resource not only about the Up Helly Aa festivals in Shetland (of which Lerwick is the most well known) but also of life in Shetland. It looks a great resource.
Vikings setting stuff on fire - what’s not to like?
"Vikings setting stuff on fire - what’s not to like?"
And lots of yelling, lol!!
I've been getting lots of Up Helly Aa stuff in my FB feed...you know, the more you add "likes" to a topic the more you get. Hopefully they won't be caught in a lot of snow like they had last week!
Thanks for the link, Stuart. I will check it out too!
Thanks for the link! I will tune in next Tuesday, probably with the sound down a bit. :)
It is beard time in Shetland. A lot of Shetlanders will have stopped shaving at the end of 2023.
Are your helmets and shields polished? Fiery torches at the ready? Tuesday is almost here! (Well, it IS here for the UK contingent!)
And apparently your singing voices need to be at the ready...
And it's a beautiful day as well today, at home and in Lerwick. Although Lerwick is forecast to turn very windy just at procession time.
I'm annoyed because I've been landed with a totally pointless waste of time meeting at the exact time the procession is meant to start, and got a rake of work in last night (still arriving on e-mail now) from my London colleague so can't concentrate on the daytime activities in Lerwick either, as planned.
Stuart, I’m sorry to hear of your busy day. Power through the work and maybe catch some of the procession a little later.
I hope everyone enjoyed the broadcast- it was superbly well done, I've seen it on a nearly 4 hour timeshift. There's also a 2 hour Shetland music film afterwards, as a substitute for being in a hall. It's now 2am so that will have to wait, no stamina!, well no soup and foods (and illlicit drink) as I would have to keep me going in a hall.
They aren't joking when they mention the wind in the film.
The northbound ferry has turned round back to Aberdeen at Kirkwall tonight. And tomorrow night's southbound ferry (which would have been full from returning visitors) is cancelled, as are all ferries to Orkney.
I went to a day spa for daughter’s birthday, so I missed the actual live stream. However, you can watch the entire procession via video. The action really starts at about minute 35 in the video. Such an amazing and beautiful fire march. Thanks for sharing Stuart.
It’s an outrage! After a mere 143 years and following a campaign that only started as recently as the 1980’s, this year girls and women were admitted to the main squad for the first time. And as far as I can see, not one of the ungrateful wretches attempted to grow a beard for the historic occasion. Very poor effort indeed!
Ian
(P.S. For the avoidance of doubt, yes, I’m being less than serious here for the most part!).
"And as far as I can see, not one of the ungrateful wretches attempted to grow a beard for the historic occasion."
Oh my word....does that mean if I go I need to be prepared to grow out my random, menopausal gray hairs on my upper lip and chinny-chin-chin? TMI!!!!
Pam
Those who went had an extra night in Shetland as the winds grew to Hurricane force. All flights were cancelled on Wednesday, as was the ferry. That ran a short Aberdeen to Kirkwall route.
Tonight the ferry is scheduled to run, but 3 1/2 hours early due to very high seas expected on passage to an added stop in Kirkwall.
Ongoing flight delays as well today, Loganair have laid on extra relief flights to carry yesterday's passengers.
