Women and girls join procession for first time at Shetland’s Up Helly Aa fire festival

The key element in a Viking festival has embraced female participants for the first time. Up Helly Aa in Lerwick, Shetland, began in the 1880s but it only allowed women and girls to join the Jarl Squad and lead the torchlight procession for the first time in 2024. 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. Those in attendance don Viking-style clothing for the event, which celebrates Shetland’s Norse heritage. Watch more on Independent TV: Click here to subscribe to The Independent: About The Independent: Making Change Happen. The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Connect with The Independent: Check out our full video catalog: