Up Helly Aa Scalloway

Shetland has more than one Up Helly Aa which surprises a lot of people as they have only heard about the one in Lerwick

Scalloway is always the first one with Lerwick Up Helly Aa taking place a couple of weeks after, this year on the 30 January

Although we didn't manage to get to the procession and burning it was good to see the build up for the first time. It was very cold but this didn't deter a good turn out.

A lot of people think the whole thing is put on for tourists but this couldn't be further from the truth. Shetlanders talk about these events for months before and it is a proud moment to be chosen for the Jarl or even the squad.

months of preparation are involved in making the costumes and the galley.

                                                               Not everyone likes the cold weather

You can always tell who has been chosen for the squad as they are the ones who suddenly start growing beards 6 months before the event

It always a good occasion and the squad sets off mid morning to visit care homes and schools before the big event at 7pm when they process through Scalloway and then set light to the Galley on the sea.

Some people don't like the winter months, the long dark nights or the cold but events like this certainly warm you up and its great to talk to those involved.

I was talking to someone who was Jarl in 1956 and remembers every moment, he tells me the squad was made up of family members including his father and son and friends from near and far, two coming over from Australia.

The weather was reasonable on the night just a bit windy unlike tonight which has around 70 mph winds and torrential rain. We are looking forward to some clear night so we can get out and see either the Aurora (Shetland Aurora Hunter on Facebook) or the milky way (shetlandsky.blogspot.co.uk)