In Holland we have the short version, this year they almost managed to burn down the city of Scheveningen. Long version: every year at the break of the new year two groups try to build the highest tower of woorden pallets and also tradition set them on fire. But this year for the first time the wind came from the sea .... and they even got dancing fire storms..
Very good, Jeff! It surely seems like a nice festival. We all need those to liven things up a bit now and then. I just think it's a bit strange that since they seem to appreciate their Nordic ancestry so much, they don't care much to make their appearance a bit more authentic (as far as we know). ...I mean... What's the deal with all the Hollywood costumes and fancy axes? But the most disturbing thing is the winged helmets! They are even worse than the horned helmets some idiots still persist to associate with late Iron age Scandinavia, but which we all know hasn't anything to do with the late Nordic iron age (more known as the Viking age in popular culture). Oh, well I realise that this festival isn't meant to be serious in any way, as they seldom are, but it wouldn't hurt if they tried to be a tad bit more realistic when they make such a big deal of the root.
Hello Christer, I concur with your comments, Up Helly Aa has become a tourist attraction and that helps the economy and the party atmosphere helps to keep the birth rate up! The Jarl squads costumes vary from year to year and from area to area and the link below shows a photograph of the Jarl squad in my area from a few years ago and the costumes are less ostentatious. HEARD Hillswick Eshaness Area Regeneration&Development Association - Up-Helly-Aa
Re post #6 and horned helmets, ISTR a not serious film, possibly a Monty Python in which a number of "Vikings" apparently wearing horned helmets attended a funeral. As a mark of respect to the deceased, the helmets were removed thus revealing that the horns were part of the heads of the mourners protruding through holes in the helmets ! and NOT horns attached to the headwear as one presumed.
