Revellers have gathered on Shetland for the annual Up Helly Aa fire festival.
The event marks the end of the Yule season in Nordic culture, and features “guizers” in Viking costume marching through Lerwick, bearing torches.
The event culminated in the burning of an imitation Viking galley in Lerwick harbour amid spectacular scenes.
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The Jarl Squad set light to the galley in Lerwick (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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Preparations to torch the galley (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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Fire takes hold as youngsters watch on (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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Youngsters take part in the torch procession (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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Torches are brandished in the junior parade (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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The festival originates in the 1880s (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
Earlier, the “Vikings” gathered in daylight to pose for photos.
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Members of the Jarl Squad parade through Lerwick (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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Originating in the 1880s, the festival celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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More than 1,000 torches are lit on the last Tuesday in January as two processions, one in the morning and a second in the evening, take place (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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Members of the Jarl Squad will have trained for months for the costumed event (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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Guizer Jarl Calum Grains, the leader of the Jarl Squad, appeared on the galley in Lerwick harbour with his daughter Colleen, 19, and son Ian, 16 (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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The event, marking the end of Yule celebrations, draws spectators from all over the world (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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The event has changed over many years, with women now allowed to participate within Jarl Squads in Lerwick as of 2023 (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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The event ends in a spectacular procession in Lerwick harbour (Jane Barlow/PA) PA Media
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