Up Helly Aa Vadim Novruzov School № 5 Form 5 V
In January, the Scottish islands hosts an annual festival of lights
This holiday is a kind of tradition that the Scots hold sacred. This holiday dates back half a millennium ago. First it was celebrated in a small village of the country. It is dedicated to the memory of the Vikings, who landed on the Shetland Islands , which are situated close to Scotland.
After 12 centuries inhabitants of Lerwick dress Vikings, light torches, raise wooden 30 -foot boat and walk through the streets of the city menacing horns blowing in the military.
Everybody wears the Vikings costumes that day. But only men are worthy to this honor. Steel made horned helmets and chain mail , weapons and shields don’t distinguish from real weapons of medieval Vikings.
Dressed in these clothes, men begin a solemn procession along the peaceful streets of the town. Even little boys dress up in clothes of the brave people.
When night falls , everybody light torches. They can hear the sound of the bugle everywhere, and the most important and spectacular event of the holiday begins. Forty of the strongest men raise the ship and carry her to the port through the city. They are followed by all the people , and each of them has a burning torch in the hands.
According to an ancient Scandinavian ritual, wooden model of a 9 - meter warship will be burned on the shores of the North Sea. The Vikings believed that the souls of the dead are raised to Valhalla with the smoke from the pyre. So burning the ship is a kind of ritual burial.
All participants of this colorful procession throw their torches on the boat.
A huge fire starts. As long as the fire burns , no one goes away.
And only when the ship is completely burned up, all people go to the city to continue the celebration. They gather at the local town hall , where theatrical performances and dances are taken place until the morning.
Long ago, the Vikings won the Shetland Islands. From the raids and looting ancient warriors went to colonize , opening a new chapter in the history of the islands. Their descendants are proud of their history and the formidable ancestors and hold sacred ancient traditions.