• Local men dressed as Vikings pose in the streets of Lerwick. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
    Local men dressed as Vikings pose in the streets of Lerwick. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
  • The traditional festival of fire is known as ‘Up Helly Aa’. The spectacular event takes place annually on the last Tuesday of January. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
    The traditional festival of fire is known as ‘Up Helly Aa’. The spectacular event takes place annually on the last Tuesday of January. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
  • A Viking longboat burns during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
    A Viking longboat burns during the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
  • Locals dressed as Vikings prepare to march through the streets of Lerwick. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
    Locals dressed as Vikings prepare to march through the streets of Lerwick. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
  • The climax of the day comes with participants in full costume hauling a Viking longboat. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
    The climax of the day comes with participants in full costume hauling a Viking longboat. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
  • A Viking takes a break. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
    A Viking takes a break. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
  • Men dressed as Vikings march through Lerwick. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
    Men dressed as Vikings march through Lerwick. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
  • A man and a boy dressed as Vikings eat breakfast, as you know, being a Viking for the day requires a full stomach. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
    A man and a boy dressed as Vikings eat breakfast, as you know, being a Viking for the day requires a full stomach. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
  • A man leads the march of 1000 men dressed as Vikings. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
    A man leads the march of 1000 men dressed as Vikings. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
  • Young and old dress up as a Viking for the occasion. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
    Young and old dress up as a Viking for the occasion. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
  • Participants dressed as Vikings prepare to participate in the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, on January 28, 2014. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
    Participants dressed as Vikings prepare to participate in the annual Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands, on January 28, 2014. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. Andy Buchanan / AFP Photo
  • The torches of the Jarl Squad are lit. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
    The torches of the Jarl Squad are lit. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
  • The Jarl Squad march around a Viking Longship before torching it. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images
    The Jarl Squad march around a Viking Longship before torching it. Jeff J Mitchell / Getty Images

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In Pictures: Up Helly Aa Viking festival

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Photos from the Up Helly Aa festival in Lerwick, Shetland Islands. The festival celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands with up to 1000 participants dressed as Vikings.

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