Hello readers,

Have you ever been to Up Helly Aa?

Today I’m talking about the fascinating history of this delightful festival!

Are you ready for some history? What about the 3 main songs? Here we go!

On old Christmas Eve, 1824 a Methodist wrote in his diary that “The whole town was in an Uproar: from 12 o’clock last night until late this night. Blowing of horns, firing of guns, shouting, tinkling of old tin kettles, beating of drums, bawling, fiddling, fifing, drinking, fighting. This was the state of the town all night the street was thronged with people as any fair I ever saw in England!”

 

The festival itself is relatively new and grew from older yuletide and New Year festivities. In 1840 tar barrels were dragged on sledges through the town while on fire by squads of masked young men. Change came in 1870 they would do guising and incorporating a torchlight procession. The Up Helly Aa “bill” would be displayed at the market cross and it poked fun at the pompous.

The songs

There are quite a few songs 3 of the main songs are . . . The Up Helly Aa song, the galley song and the Norseman’s home. The Up Helly Aa song is the song they sing the most it’s like the Galley song but a lot longer. The galley song is also one they sing a lot as I said it’s just like the Up Helly Aa song but a lot shorter. The Norseman’s home is the last song they sing and it’s not like the others at all.

The order that they sing it in is Galley song then The Up Helly Aa song then Norseman’s home.

Thank you for reading my blog hope you learnt something. Have a good day   –   Lowra Tulloch