The biggest secret is what the head of the festival, Guizer Jarl, who represents the Viking chief, will wear at the event.
The biggest secret is what the head of the festival, Guizer Jarl, who represents the Viking chief, will wear at the event. The costume for the Jarl is based on characters from various Norse Sagas, which is only revealed to the public on the day of the event. A signal rocket explodes in the sky at 7:30 pm on the evening of Up Helly Aa that sets off a huge procession of fully costumed torch bearers, divided into squads, with only the Jarl’s squad wearing actual Viking clothes. The Jarl’s galley is painstakingly dragged to a burning site, where it is set on fire, destroying months of careful labour. Once the galley has gone up in flames, the squads head to private parties in halls, where they perform skits or dances. Though most of these halls are private, some sell tickets to the general public. The next edition of Up Helly Aa will be held on January 31, 2023.