Events and Festivals in Scotland
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- Events in Scotland
- Things to do in Scotland
- Where to stay in Scotland
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Whether it’s a local party or a massive national festival, nothing’s more frustrating than missing out on major events on your travels. To make sure you’re at the most exciting events in Scotland check out the HostelBookers roundup of what’s happening when. We’ve got the lot covered!
Viking Torchlight Procession
Up Helly Aa Festival - Scotland
When: 27 January 2010
Up Helly Aa Festival is Britain's largest fire and torchlight procession. Taking place on the last Tuesday in January every year in Lerwick, in the Shetlands, over 900 'guisers' follow Jarl's famous squad of Vikings through the streets towards the fire site.
All of the participants carry flaming torches and then set fire to a "Viking Galley" to create a huge blaze. Then the 'Vikings' and all the other participants head to public and private venues throughout Lerwick and perform dances and sketches for onlookers.
The fire festival as it is known today is much tamer version of what it used to be.
Up Helly Aa as it is known today started just over 100 years ago, when revellers celebrated "24th Night" or "Up Helly Night" (part of the yule season), by dragging flaming tar-barrels through the street and causing havoc.
To witness this unique event, stay in a hostel in Lerwick, Shetland Islands. The Lerwick Up Helly Aa also has its own bizarre tradition. The festival is men only, and women are required to remain in the halls to dance and feed the men. This means that alot of men dress up as women, leading the locals to nickname the event "Transvestite Tuesday"!
