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The Up Helly Aa event in Scotland is the largest annual fire festival for European tourists
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As the largest fire festival in Europe among international events, Up Helly Aa, held annually at the end of January in Scotland, attracts a large number of participating tourists
This peculiarly named festival has been celebrated since 1880 to honor Viking culture, which had a long-lasting influence in the Nordic region. This year, the festival took place on January 29, which was last Tuesday.
Up Helly Aa commences at 8:30 a.m. on the last Tuesday of January. This year, over 1,000 Guizers – local volunteers dressed as Vikings – participated in the procession. Since 1956, young volunteers like these have been permitted to join to add to the festivity.
Similar to the adult Guizers, these young volunteers are allowed to possess their own Viking ship models and participate in the torchlit procession and ship burning ceremony. The attire of these children is prepared by their parents well in advance of the festival.
A 9.2-meter-long boat modeled after ancient Viking ships was constructed by volunteers. The process of crafting it is intricate and meticulous, but the fate of this boat is to be burned down every year.
To add a touch of grandeur to the boat burning event, all street lights in the city are switched off early.
This boat burning spectacle is the most eagerly anticipated part, the climax of the festival. Over 1,000 torches will be lit, creating a colossal, glowing flame in the night.
In the golden-orange glow of the fire, the Viking helmets with wings become even more prominent.
After the boat has burned brightly, the festivities begin anew. The people of Scotland drink, dance joyously until 8 a.m. the next morning, as the following day is considered a national holiday.
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Posted by: Tú Lê
Keywords: Europe ablaze with excitement at the Up Helly Aa festival
