Vikings celebrate on the Shetland Islands

The traditional festival of fire is known as 'Up Helly Aa'.

The spectacular event takes place annually on the last Tuesday of January. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands

The climax of the day comes with participants in full costume hauling a Viking longboat through the streets of Lerwick to the edge of town where up to 1000 people parade and throw their flaming torches into the galley.