The
1999 Up-Helly-Aa was typical of all recent ones, and saw the fire festival get
under way early on Tuesday when Sigurd Hlodvisson alias Guizer Jarl Davie
Mathewson and his 57 strong squad of fearsome Vikings took to the streets of
Lerwick.
An air of excitement and expectation - and a few rain drops -
hung over Lerwick when the Jarl and his men finally presented their galley,
named `Įsmundervag“ to Shetlanders and visitors lining the streets.
Dressed
in red velvet, shining silver-plates and helmets, and carrying heavy axes and
shields the Vikings marched the streets of Lerwick before heading to the
councils reception, where convener Canon Lewis Smith handed over the Freedom of
Lerwick to the Jarl.
`I give you the Freedom of Lerwick for the next 24
hours. I wish you a great day, an even better night and a memorable festival,“
he said to Sigurd Hlodvisson.
In
reply Jarl Davie Mathewson recalled the days when he first joined his squad back
in 1975 as a fiddlebox carrier, the traditional way for Lerwick youths to grow
into an Up-Helly-Aa squad. He said: `Of the 15 original squad members 13 are
still with the squad and they are all doing very well. I am pleased to be here
today.“
Convener Canon Lewis Smith, who is an Episcopalian minister, then said - to the
cheers of his audience - that Sigurd Hlodvisson was `an old friend of mine“ as
he became the first Viking who converted to Christianity and became baptised.
He added to the laughter of the audience that, however, Sigurd
Hlodvisson `did it still the old way“ as he had a Christian and a pagan funeral.
Visits to local schools, residential homes and hospital follow during the
afternoon before the Jarl's Squad got prepared for the climax of Britain's
largest remaining fire festival: The procession and the burning of the galley.
In the 19th century Lerwick's winter festival was often riotous.
Special constables were called as folk were dragging a blazing tar barrel
through the streets. Today's festival is much better behaved.
Up Helly Aa - evening events
(including the spectacular burning of the galley)
(Words courtesy of Hans
Marter, photos courtesy of Graeme Storey)
