Up Helly Aa, Lerwick, Shetland. The jarls on the march with the burning of the galley with guizer jarl, Mark Evans.
Picture by Jim Irvine 26-1-16
Thousands of people have gathered to watch Shetland’s famous Up Helly Aa fire festival.
The spectacle, which attracts visitors from around the world, takes place in Lerwick on the last Tuesday of January each year.
Volunteers are responsible for the building of the galley boat and the production of more than 1,000 torches.
Up Helly Aa, Lerwick, Shetland. The jarls on the march with the burning of the galley with guizer jarl, Mark Evans.<br />Picture by Jim Irvine 26-1-16
Hundreds of people dressed as Vikings marched through the town in wind and rain to recreate its ancient past, in a tradition that dates back to the 1880s.
Up Helly Aa, Lerwick, Shetland. The jarls on the march with the burning of the galley with guizer jarl, Mark Evans.<br />Picture by Jim Irvine 26-1-16
IN PICTURES: Thousands gather for Up Helly Aa festival
