Scotland: Shetlands' spectacular Up Helly Aa Viking festival comes to a fiery end
Shetland's spectacular annual Up Helly Aa festival has come to a fiery conclusion in Lerwick. The event celebrates the Shetland Islands' Viking heritage, and is traditionally held on the last Tuesday of January. Up Helly Aa concludes with the burning of a replica Viking longboat. During the day, a band of latter-day Viking warriors known as the Jarl Squad attend a series of marches and public appearances to teach locals about their Viking ancestors. The event attracts visitors from across the world and is seen as a tourism boost to the Shetland Islands.
IBTimes UK presents Andy Buchanan's photos of this year's Up Helly Aa Viking Festival in Lerwick, the Shetland Isles.
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