Edinburgh Up Helly Aa

Ping, Richard and I met this evening and joined the Torchlight Procession going up Calton Hill. This was the start of the New Year festivities.

Up Helly aa - a Viking celebration dating back to about 900 a.d where a boat was burnt after invading somewhere! This stops the vikings returning of course. I didnt notice any viking invasion although I may have missed it.
The procession and the Up Helly Aa is based on the original held in Shetland every year.

This was followed by some fireworks and then a couple of beers at The Guildford Arms. Ping and I then walked round the fair and then home.
A few of the photos I took Are here