苏格兰设得兰群岛的维京火节：照亮冬夜的古老传承
As darkness falls on the last Tuesday of January, the streetlights of Lerwick, Shetland, are switched off. In their place, nearly a thousand men and women carrying flaming torches march through the narrow lanes, their faces lit by an orange glow. This is Up Helly Aa, a fire festival that celebrates the islands’ Viking heritage and marks the end of the Yule season.
Although the present-day event dates back to the 1880s, its roots stretch far deeper into Shetland’s Norse past. The islands were ruled by Norway until the 15th century, and the festival revives ancient midwinter customs of banishing darkness and welcoming the return of light. Over time, it absorbed elements of Victorian pageantry and a playfully rebellious spirit, particularly through the Guizer Jarl, the chief Viking who leads the procession.
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