Women participate in Up Helly Aa Viking pageant in Shetland procession

On Jan 31, 2024

Published: 00:54, 31 January 2024 | Updated: 01:28, 31 January 2024

Women took half in a historic Viking pageant torchlight procession for the primary time final night time.

Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Shetland, started within the Eighties however solely allowed ladies and ladies to affix the Jarl Squad and lead the torchlight procession for the primary time this 12 months.

More than 1,000 torches are lit on the final Tuesday in January as two processions, one within the morning and a second within the night, happen.

Women took part in a historic Viking festival torchlight procession for the first time last night

Women took half in a historic Viking pageant torchlight procession for the primary time final night time

Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Shetland, began in the 1880s but only allowed women and girls to join the Jarl Squad last night

Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Shetland, started within the Eighties however solely allowed ladies and ladies to affix the Jarl Squad final night time

Women dressed in Viking-style clothing were also allowed to lead the torchlight procession for the first time this year

Women wearing Viking-style clothes had been additionally allowed to steer the torchlight procession for the primary time this 12 months

Pictured: Some of the first-ever women to take part in the historic procession last night

Pictured: Some of the first-ever ladies to participate within the historic procession final night time

Members of the Up Helly Aa 'arl Squad set fire to their ship during a parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland

Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘arl Squad set hearth to their ship throughout a parade by means of the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland

Each year, 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

Each 12 months, greater than 1,000 torches are lit on the final Tuesday in January as two processions, one within the morning and a second within the night, happen

People's faces were lit up by the flames and no doubt felt the intense heat upon their faces

People’s faces had been lit up by the flames and little question felt the extreme warmth upon their faces

The Viking-style ship was painted in shades of blue - but was always destined to be burnt

The Viking-style ship was painted in shades of blue – however was all the time destined to be burnt

Jenna Moar, 16, was one of the first female participants of this year's Jarl Squad

Jenna Moar, 16, was one of many first feminine individuals of this 12 months’s Jarl Squad

Jenna Moar, 16, was one of many first feminine individuals of this 12 months’s Jarl Squad.

Her father Richard Moar, 47, is the chief jarl.

The organisation is run by a voluntary committee of 17 members, every chosen by the guizers – or costumed individuals – with one new member elected every year.

The members don Viking-style clothes for the occasion, which celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage.

She joined the men to throw their torches onto the ship, setting fire to it

She joined the lads to throw their torches onto the ship, setting hearth to it

The members don Viking-style clothing for the event, which celebrates Shetland's Norse heritage

The members don Viking-style clothes for the occasion, which celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage

Before night fell, the Up Helly Aa 'Jarl Squad' posed with their axes and shields

Before night time fell, the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ posed with their axes and shields

An imitation Viking galley ship, called Ethena, along with Guizer Jarl's squad and a brass band led a procession with 46 other squads in fancy dress behind them

An imitation Viking galley ship, referred to as Ethena, together with Guizer Jarl’s squad and a brass band led a procession with 46 different squads in fancy costume behind them

The ship was soon surrounded by women and men with flaming torches on Tuesday evening

The ship was quickly surrounded by men and women with flaming torches on Tuesday night

Men were seen with classical headgear and large axes as they joined the historic procession

Men had been seen with classical headgear and huge axes as they joined the historic procession

The galley ship Ethena quickly set alight when men and women threw their flaming torches onto it

The galley ship Ethena rapidly set alight when women and men threw their flaming torches onto it

One person's headgear was silhouetted against the burning remains of the ship

One particular person’s headgear was silhouetted in opposition to the burning stays of the ship

The blustering wind swirled many of the sparks from the blaze up into the night sky

The blustering wind swirled most of the sparks from the blaze up into the night time sky

In 1949, the pageant turned a extremely organised occasion for the primary time, after years of ad-hoc celebrations.

Guizer Jarl Mr Moar has been concerned within the pageant since 1990, together with his first style of guizing that 12 months as a fiddlebox service – individuals who carry musical devices.

Three of his nieces are additionally concerned within the Jarl Squad.

At 7.30pm, fireworks had been be set off to sign the lighting of torches.

An imitation Viking galley ship, referred to as Ethena, together with Guizer Jarl’s squad and a brass band led a procession with 46 different squads in fancy costume behind them.

In 1949, the festival became a highly organised event for the first time, after years of ad-hoc celebrations

In 1949, the pageant turned a extremely organised occasion for the primary time, after years of ad-hoc celebrations

A young man is lit up with a red glow as the festivities get underway in Shetland

A younger man is lit up with a purple glow because the festivities get underway in Shetland

Guizer Jarl Mr Moar has been involved in the festival since 1990, with his first taste of guizing that year as a fiddlebox carrier - people who carry musical instruments

Guizer Jarl Mr Moar has been concerned within the pageant since 1990, together with his first style of guizing that 12 months as a fiddlebox service – individuals who carry musical devices