‘We don’t burn our galley in a playpark…’ scenes from the One True Up Helly Aa…


It was the Northmavine Up Helly Aa on Friday night, our local viking conflagration. Not on the same scale as the internationally-famed Lerwick festival, but less precious and a lot more (in my opinion) fun. And indeed, the galley is not burned in a playpark, but out there on the water – the only Up Helly Aa where that happens. It was a fine night and congratulations to Guizer Jarl John Scollay and his associates.


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2 responses to “‘We don’t burn our galley in a playpark…’ scenes from the One True Up Helly Aa…”

  1. Tom Morton Avatar
    Tom Morton

    ….though I would aver that Northmavine is the only Up Helly Aa with an ocean-going, human-carrying, sailing galley that carries a Jarl Squad (were it not for Health and Safety rules)

  2. Tom Morton Avatar
    Tom Morton

    Grateful to Erik for pointing out that in fact Scalloway Fire Festival (why isn’t it called an Up Helly Aa?) does burn its galley at sea.

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