Remembering the 'Vikings'

Dawn.com Published February 1, 2012
'Guizers' with flaming torches are pictured with a Viking Galley in Lerwick, on the Shetland Isles, off the north-east coast of Scotland, during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival on Tuesday January 31, 2012. ? AP Photo
'Guizers' with flaming torches are pictured with a Viking Galley in Lerwick, on the Shetland Isles, off the north-east coast of Scotland, during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival on Tuesday January 31, 2012. ? AP Photo
Members of the Jarl Squad are pictured in front of a burning Viking Galley in Lerwick, on the Shetland Isles, off the north-east coast of Scotland, during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival on Tuesday January 31, 2012. ? AP Photo
Members of the Jarl Squad are pictured in front of a burning Viking Galley in Lerwick, on the Shetland Isles, off the north-east coast of Scotland, during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival on Tuesday January 31, 2012. ? AP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
A member of the Viking Jarl Squad attends the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian vikings in the Shetland Islands and has employed this theme in the festival since 1870. The event culminates with up to 1000 'guizers' (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into a Viking longship. ? AFP Photo
A member of the Viking Jarl Squad attends the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian vikings in the Shetland Islands and has employed this theme in the festival since 1870. The event culminates with up to 1000 'guizers' (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into a Viking longship. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad attend the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad attend the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012.? AFP Photo
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad surround their leader or 'Guizer Jarl' on a Viking galley ship during the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012.? AFP Photo
'Guizers' with flaming torches are pictured with a Viking Galley in Lerwick, on the Shetland Isles, off the north-east coast of Scotland, during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival on Tuesday January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
'Guizers' with flaming torches are pictured with a Viking Galley in Lerwick, on the Shetland Isles, off the north-east coast of Scotland, during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival on Tuesday January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
A member of the Viking Jarl Squad attends the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo
A member of the Viking Jarl Squad attends the annual Up Helly Aa Festival in the Shetland Islands of Lerwick, on January 31, 2012. ? AFP Photo

Hundreds of costumed guizers carrying torches took to the streets of a Scottish island during the annual Up Helly Aa festival.

Originating in the 1880s, the tradition which celebrates Shetland's Norse heritage sees around 900 guizers drag a Viking galley through the streets of Lerwick, led by a horde of 'Vikings'.

The festival, that attracts thousands of revelers each year, culminates in the burning of the Viking galley. — Photos by Agencies

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