Almost 1,000 Vikings arrived in Shetland to celebrate the islands' Nordic heritage. The guizers, known as the Jarl Squad, came by boat...
...and other, less traditional, modes of transport .
Up Helly Aa festival saw the Vikings march through the Lerwick city streets...
...and quench their mighty Viking thirsts at inns .
The annual event, widely regarded as Europe's biggest and best fire festival, continued as a torchlight procession when night fell .
Tourism chiefs in Shetland estimated a crowd size of 5,000 onlookers as the procession made its way...
...culminating in a 30-foot longboat being set alight .
The festival began in the 19th Century and is descended from the ancient festival of Yule, which the Vikings held to celebrate the rebirth of the sun .
Although it originated as a Norse pagan festival it was then adopted by Christians to celebrate the end of the Christian Holy period with feasting and bonfires ..
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