Whether you hold a great deal of knowledge or know very little about Lerwick’s Up Helly Aa festival, if this “Idiot’s Guide” to the fiery event fails to educate, it will certainly entertain.
Rowan Slaney and Jacob Rickard have put together a short video highlighting what to expect at the spectacular celebration.
From the origins of its most infamous activities to the great part the community has to play in the procession, the pair have covered a vast amount.
Rowan said: “I was inspired to make the video as Up Helly Aa was something that I’d always wanted to go to, and because I kept putting it off I was worried that I’d never get the chance.
“But thankfully my boyfriend – Jacob – booked flights for the pair of us, so we set off on our journey with high anticipations – and it definitely didn’t disappoint.”
The two were able to experience what the people of Lerwick spend months preparing year in and year out, including the burning of the Galley and the parade through the town.
The 26-year-old admitted that the video was made “spontaneously”, and the event as a whole proved much more remarkable than originally expected.
She said: “The festival wasn’t only visually amazing but had a great atmosphere, especially in the halls where the community get together to drink and dance.
“We were lucky to get our hands on tickets for the halls, because they were given to us after bumping into someone at the airport unexpectedly.
“This only made the whole experience more spectacular.
“But my one word of advice would be to book accommodation beforehand as we had a bit of a struggle searching while we were there, but I’d urge anyone considering on going to definitely do so.”