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After 18 Years, I'll Finally Lead the Vikings in Up Helly Aa
Lynden Nicolson, after an 18-year wait, leads over 1,000 torch-bearers in Shetland's Up Helly Aa festival, celebrating Norse heritage with a Viking longship burning.
- On Tuesday, the Lerwick festival culminates with the burning of a replica galley in a torch-lit climax led by Lynden Nicolson, Guizer Jarl, in a procession through the town.
- Tracing back to the 1870s, Up Helly Aa honors Shetland Islands' Norse heritage and has been held almost every year except during the two World Wars and Covid-19, the festival's official website says.
- Volunteers assemble the hand-built longship and more than 1,000 torches, while the Jarl Squad of 55 adults and 10 children leads a procession joined by over 40 other squads.
- After nearly 20 years waiting, Nicolson endured the longest delay in Up Helly Aa's 145-year history due to pandemic cancellations and praised Paula's support.
- As a highlight of Scotland's calendar, Up Helly Aa is described as Europe's largest fire festival and attracts visitors from around the globe.
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14 Articles
14 Articles
Hundreds of men dressed in Vikings marched through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland, on the occasion of the annual festivities of Up Helly Aa on Tuesday.
·Montreal, Canada
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Evening Standard+7 Reposted by 7 other sources
Crowds gather in Shetland for Up Helly Aa fire festival
The festival dates to the 19th century.
·London, United Kingdom
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Why one Scottish island is engulfed in flames in a spectacular Viking celebration every January
Up Helly Aa is held on the final Tuesday of January every year, and will see an army of more than 1,000 Viking warriors, known as the Jarl Squad, take to the streets.
·Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left7Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Left
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources lean Left
64% Left
L 64%
C 36%
Factuality
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