Maybe the Vikings get a bad rap. Maybe instead of pillaging and terrorizing, they just wanted to have fun. That’s certainly the impression everyone visiting the remote Shetland Islands in Britain would get if their trip coincided with the yearly Up Helly Aa festival in January. The Shetlands were invaded and ruled by the Vikings for hundreds of years, but residents must either have short memories or not think their Norse rulers were too harsh, because the festival today involves getting dressed up in Viking garb and partying like it is 899. Some say that although it has murky origins, Up Helly Aa was begun to curb boisterous holiday celebrations. Well, if that’s done by encouraging a raucous day-and-night party with dress-up Vikings wielding axes that culminates with a torchlight parade through town and the ceremonial immolation of a Viking longship, then mission accomplished.
-Chris Warren
