Anybody with connections to Shetland will know about Up Helly Aa.
But for anybody who doesn't know anything about this strange little island group which has it's roots set firmly in a viking past, the Up Helly Aa fire festival is a weird and wonderful example of how people can transform from normal human beings, into complete idiots, for one night of the year.
It's unique, extreme, fantastic, unbelievable, etc.. etc..
And in some strange way the Up Helly Aa festival is actually brillitant.
I had a look at this event from a poetic point of view a couple of years ago, and came up with this little verse. Sadly written in English,,, I was having a 'bad' language day. ;)
Transvestite Tuesday
Men dressed up as women
Cross dressers one and all
Parading through the streets
Then visiting every hall.
How can the law allow this
It flies in the face of reason
I’m sure that in good old England
This would be viewed as treason.
But late in January every year
This amazing sight exists
Most likely caused by the fact
That all the men are pissed.
But booze aside there’s no excuse
For such wanton bad behavior
Their drunken acts will fair them ill
When they come to meet their savior.
They claim that all these high jinks
Are just an old tradition
But it’s clearly just a cover
For their transvestite ambition.
Folk flock in droves to see it
And tell of what they saw
At Shetland’s Famous festival
Lerwick Up Helly-Aa.
Auld Rasmie
For more about this years Lerwick Up Helly Aa festival, which happens on 25th January, keep an eye on the main page of Shetlopedia which will be updated with pictures and links as soon as they are available.
Onywye, yun's aa fir enoo.
But for anybody who doesn't know anything about this strange little island group which has it's roots set firmly in a viking past, the Up Helly Aa fire festival is a weird and wonderful example of how people can transform from normal human beings, into complete idiots, for one night of the year.
It's unique, extreme, fantastic, unbelievable, etc.. etc..
And in some strange way the Up Helly Aa festival is actually brillitant.
I had a look at this event from a poetic point of view a couple of years ago, and came up with this little verse. Sadly written in English,,, I was having a 'bad' language day. ;)
Transvestite Tuesday
Men dressed up as women
Cross dressers one and all
Parading through the streets
Then visiting every hall.
How can the law allow this
It flies in the face of reason
I’m sure that in good old England
This would be viewed as treason.
But late in January every year
This amazing sight exists
Most likely caused by the fact
That all the men are pissed.
But booze aside there’s no excuse
For such wanton bad behavior
Their drunken acts will fair them ill
When they come to meet their savior.
They claim that all these high jinks
Are just an old tradition
But it’s clearly just a cover
For their transvestite ambition.
Folk flock in droves to see it
And tell of what they saw
At Shetland’s Famous festival
Lerwick Up Helly-Aa.
Auld Rasmie
For more about this years Lerwick Up Helly Aa festival, which happens on 25th January, keep an eye on the main page of Shetlopedia which will be updated with pictures and links as soon as they are available.
Onywye, yun's aa fir enoo.
