nPostednon January 28, 2014
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It’sna Scottish festival! n
It’sna Scottish festival! nn
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nIt’sna fire festival!
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nIt’sna Viking festival!
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nUpnHelly Aa, reputed to be the largest fire festival in Europe, is heldnevery year in Shetland, in Scotland. Like so many other customs having to do with fire and light, it is a connected to winter’s short days and long nights, but Up Helly Aa is a celebration of the end of this dark yule season. Young men used to drag barrelsnof burning tar through the town (and, boy, does that soundnfun!), and when “tar barreling” was outlawed, people held torchnprocessions. n
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nNowadaysnpeople work all year designing and creating fabulous outfits,ndeciding on characters they will play, and rehearsing acts tonperform. On the actual day, a large sign called “the Bill” isnerected in the town square. It has the news about what is going to benhappening—along with a lot of jokes and satire. The Guizer Jarl andnhis Jarl Squad march through town, followed by a galley, which is anlong, low boat. Every once in a while the guizers visit a hospital,nschool, or museum.
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Atnnight the famous torchlit procession consists of almost 1,000 guizersncarrying torches, following the galley. Many more thousands line thenroute and cheer at the guizers. The thrill at the end of the route isnthat the galley is sent to “Valhalla” (in Norse mythology,nValhalla is the hall in which souls of soldiers who were killed innbattle were received by the god Odin). And just how do you send anboat to a mythological place? You burn it, of course!
Atnnight the famous torchlit procession consists of almost 1,000 guizersncarrying torches, following the galley. Many more thousands line thenroute and cheer at the guizers. The thrill at the end of the route isnthat the galley is sent to “Valhalla” (in Norse mythology,nValhalla is the hall in which souls of soldiers who were killed innbattle were received by the god Odin). And just how do you send anboat to a mythological place? You burn it, of course!n
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nAfternthat, the guizers go to twelve halls in turn, and in each one theynperform their acts and dance routines. There is tea and coffee, soupnand sandwiches available, plus of course plenty of deserts. Dancingnand laughter and merriment continue all night until 8:00 a.m.ntomorrow morning (which is a holiday so people can get some sleep!).
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nTherenis even a Junior Up Helly Aa – with squads wearing costumes, antorchlit procession, and a galley to burn – for kids!
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nFindnout more here.
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nAlsonon this date:
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Democracy Day in Rwanda
Democracy Day in Rwanda
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nNationalnKazoo Day
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nAnniversarynof first ski tow in the U.S.
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nAnniversarynof the coining of the word serendipity
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nPlannahead!
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nJanuaryn holidays
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nJanuaryn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in January
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nAndnhere are my boards for:
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nFebruaryn holidays
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nFebruaryn birthdays
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nHistoricaln anniversaries in February
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