The streets of Lerwick are once again filled with fire and smoke as Shetland hosts its world-famous fire festival Up Helly Aa.
This event, traditionally held on the last Tuesday in January, celebrates Shetland's Norwegian heritage.
Thousands of visitors flock to the UK's northernmost islands each year to watch the evening torchlight procession through Lerwick, culminating in the lighting of a replica Viking ship.
Women and girls are last year made history when they joined the main "team" at the head of the ceremony for the first time in more than 140 years.
Read more
- A remote Scottish island where New Year's is celebrated according to the Julian calendar
- The most chaotic ancient British rituals that still take place today
- The spectacular World Nomad Games of Central Asia
More than 40 groups march through the streets of Lerwick during the evening torchlight ceremony at Europe's largest fire festival.
At the forefront is the "Jarl Team" led by the leader, Guizer Jarl.
Members of this team, who become Vikings for a day, wear specially made uniforms, axes and shields.
They must build a replica of a galley - a Viking longship - which will be set on fire at the end. Up Helly Aa.
This year they named him Galley.
For Callum Grains, who had to wait 17 years to take on the role of Guizer Jarl in 2025, the last Tuesday in January is a special day.
"Up Helly Aa "It's such a big shared event - it marks the end of that winter period and we start looking forward to the new year again," he said.
"It's one of those big things that makes Shetland unique."
Watch the video: Mohács carnivals and the secret of terrifying masks
On Tuesday morning, Calum led a team of 61 through the streets of Lerwick to showcase the ship Galley to the audience before they went to local nursing homes and schools to sing and dance for enthusiastic spectators.
When darkness fell, the Junior Jarl team began the evening ceremony by lighting the longboat.
Soon after, all the teams marched through the town to the sounds of Lerwick brass bands before setting fire to the Galley.
The celebration continued in the common areas and lasted until the next morning.
Laura and her friends traveled to Shetland for Up Helly Aa from Vancouver, a city in Canada.
"We're looking forward to the ceremony, as well as the parties," she said.
"The plan is to stay up all night because we heard it's rude to leave early. We want to respect tradition," she said.
See photos of the spectacular fire festival
Up Helly Aa is traditionally held on the last Tuesday in January and celebrates Shetland's Norwegian heritage.
The young people first set fire to a smaller replica of a Viking ship.
The highlight of the festival is the burning of a replica of a large Viking ship.
The Jarl team has a year to build a replica of the galley that they burn during the festival.
Calum Grains, this year's Guizer Jarl, leads the members of the Up Helly Aa festival's "Jarl crew"
The celebrations take place throughout the day and attract people of all ages.
The Junior Jarl team began the evening ceremony by lighting their own longboat.
Read this too
- Bear Dance: A Fur Ritual for Protection from Evil Forces
- Summer Arrival Celebration at Ancient Stonehenge: An Unforgettable Sun Salutation
- Four thousand years of dragon history
BBC is in Serbian from now on and on YouTube, follow us HERE.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram i Viber. If you have a topic suggestion for us, please contact bbcnasrpskom@bbc.co.uk
Bonus video:
