Gallery: Viking festival ends in spectacular flame-throwing spree

 

The annual Helly AA Festival celebrates the historic influence of Scandinavian Vikings of Scotland.

 
February 1, 2012
 
 
 
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.
 

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.

Photograph by: ANDY BUCHANAN, AFP/Getty Images

 
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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
Members of the Viking Jarl Squad attend 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
Participants dressed in armour and holding Viking war-axes and shields take part in a procession during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2012. 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 their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.
Participants dressed in armour and holding Viking war-axes and shields take part in a procession during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2012. 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 their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.
Participants dressed in armour and holding Viking war-axes and shields take part in a procession during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2012. 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 their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.
Members of the ‘Jarl Squad’ dressed in their Viking armour heft their shields and axes at the start of the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2012. 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 their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.
Participants dressed in armour and holding Viking war-axes and shields gather for a procession during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2012. 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 their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.
Young ‘Jarl Squad’ members Murray Shearer (L) and his brother Logan (R) play dressed in their Viking armour before the start of the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2012. 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 their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.
Young participants take part in a Viking procession during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2012. 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 their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.
Participants dressed as Vikings pose beside their longboat during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2012. 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 their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.
‘Guizer Jarl’ David Nicholson, leader of the ‘Jarl Squad’, stands aboard his longboat next to its beast-head prow during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2012. 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 their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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