Aphellio (25/01)

In the 9th century, Vikings landed on Shetland, located next to the coast of Scotland, opening a new page in the history of the islands. The famous traditionally Scottish holiday Up Helly Aa, held in the main city of the Shetland Islands, Lerwick, is dedicated to this event.

Aphellio is celebrated annually on the last Tuesday of January and is considered the largest fire festival in Europe and one of the unique festivals in the world.

The people of Lerwick make a 30-foot model of a Viking ship (with a dragon on its bow), dress up as Vikings, light torches, march through the streets, blowing traditional war bugles, and carry the ship across town to the sea. More than 900 picturesquely dressed participants follow a squad of 40 Vikings and their giant ship to the place where the fire will be lit.

In the evening, a torchlight procession according to the ancient ritual of burying dead warriors burns a wooden Viking boat on the coast — 900 burning torches are thrown onto a «ancient» ship. The spectacle is impressive! This is the Viking custom adopted for the funerals of warriors and leaders.

Scottish soil has been subject to Viking raids for quite some time, so many traditional celebrations for this territory bear the imprint of Scandinavian culture. Today, Scots are proud of this story and connection with the famous Scandinavian pirates.

The official date of the torch festival was recorded only at the beginning of the 19th century — on this day noble men returned from the Napoleonic wars.

1976