Shetland islanders Norse a hangover

And torch a longship, too

January 29, 1998
Web posted at: 10:29 p.m. EDT (2229 GMT)

LERWICK, Scotland (CNN) -- Shetland islanders celebrated their annual Norse Festival Tuesday with feasts, plenty of drink, a colorful proclamation and the burning of a Viking ship.

The Shetlands -- or Zetland, as the area is sometimes called -- are a splash of islands nearly as close to Norway as they are to Scotland.

In the distant past, Norsemen visited the Shetlands, and their influence is still strongly felt. Indeed, the people of these remote islands midway between the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea share more with their Scandinavian neighbors than with the rest of Britain.

The islanders celebrate that heritage on the last Tuesday in January by observing Up-Helly-Aa, a festival that once marked the end of the Christian holy period.

To herald the start of the festivities, an elaborately decorated proclamation -- known as "The Bill" -- containing gossip and local humor that has been the talk of the town over the past 12 months, is posted in the market square.

Guizers torch longship

The guizers torch the longship

A 30-foot-long longship -- also known as a galley -- is then escorted through the streets by about 40 "guizers," men wearing traditional Viking costumes.

The ship is left on display throughout the day.

In the evening, up to 900 guizers in squads of between 10 and 30 members gather at the Town Hall. Carrying torches aloft, they march in a colorful and noisy procession through Lerwick while a local brass band provides music.

At the harbor, a bugle sounds and the guizers throw their torches into the doomed longship. To the proud rendering of a traditional song, "The Norseman's Home," an inferno engulfs the ship until only ashes remain.

For many, it signals the start of a party that will go on all night. Alcohol flows freely and there is music to accompany the dancing.

And next morning, before the hangovers have receded, plans begin for building next year's costumes and galley.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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