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Every January, the town of Lerwick in Shetland comes alive with Europe’s largest fire festival, Up Helly Aa, a vibrant celebration honoring the area’s Norse roots. This spectacular event sees hundreds of torchbearers parade through the streets, culminating in the fiery destruction of a Viking longship replica. Known locally as the “Jarl Squad,” a group of Vikings leads the procession, symbolizing the region’s deep historical ties to Viking culture.
This year, Lynden Nicolson assumed the prestigious role of Guizer Jarl, the chief of the Jarl Squad, after an 18-year wait, reportedly the longest in the event’s 145-year history. Leading 65 members ranging in age from six to 87, Nicolson and his squad spent months preparing elaborate Viking costumes by hand. The intricate designs, including distinctive wolf-head helmets, took nearly three years of collaborative effort among Nicolson and local artists Dirk Robertson and Andrew Tate.
As darkness fell over the islands, more than 40
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