Today in Lerwick we celebrate Up-Helly-Aa, a Viking Fire Festival. Fire Festivals are held all over Shetland at this time of the year, but Lerwick is the biggest. It is always held on the last Tuesday in January and curiously afterwards we notice the daylight hours increasing on a daily basis. It is a celebration that the winter is over (ha ha - don;t believe that one!) but I always feel it is a turning point for daylight. Its a celebration that we've come through the dark months of December and January and its all looking forward from now on.

It is also a BIG party (Shetland knows how to party!). A big procession this morning through the town (Jarl Squad) and a torchlight procession tonight (1000 guizers), where the galley is towed around the town and then set alight. Following that there are parties in ten halls in Lerwick from 9pm to 9am tomorrow morning, each Squad going around all ten halls and entertaining the hostesses and guests. There is NEVER a cancellation for weather!

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