What do you know about Up Helly What do you know about Up Helly Aa?Aa?

• Where is Up Helly Aa held?

• What happens at Up Helly Aa?

• Why do the people celebrate the Vikings?

About Up Helly AaAbout Up Helly Aa

• Up Helly Aa is a festival held in the Shetland Islands every year on the last Tuesday of January to mark the end of winter

• The first festival was held in 1882• One Jarl is selected and he is in charge of the

whole island for the week of Up Helly Aa...not the police!

Up Helly Aa ProcessionUp Helly Aa Procession• The day is filled with marches from all 45

squadrons, including a junior squadron

• Nearly 1000 men carry their torches through the Nearly 1000 men carry their torches through the town following the Viking Shiptown following the Viking Ship

• At the end of the procession they all throw their At the end of the procession they all throw their torches on to the ship and burn it, sending it to torches on to the ship and burn it, sending it to ValhallaValhalla

• Here are a few pictures of the procession...Here are a few pictures of the procession...

Evening Halls and Squad ActsEvening Halls and Squad Acts• Following the procession the fun begins for

all of the Vikings. • The 45 Squads are invited to twelve halls in

turn where they will each perform their act or dance routine.

• This starts at 9pm and ends at 8am the next day!

We have five different ‘halls’ or We have five different ‘halls’ or activities to do this afternoon...activities to do this afternoon...

After putting on our Viking helmets, Thor’s hammer, brooches and shields we can do..

1. Viking ‘day in a life’ board game2. Word searches3. Colour in Viking pictures4. Computer games5. Make Viking bracelets with string

............And then we can FEAST!............And then we can FEAST!