Up-Helly-Aa

Description

A study of the mid-winter festival celebrated annually in the Shetland Islands, based on research carried out in the summer of 1968, and the witnessing of the event in Lerwick in January 1969. The study comprises six chapters. The first presents a background to the festival, with sections on definitions, origins, guizing and other similar festivals. Chapter Two traces the development of the festival, with sections on tar-barrels, guizing, the prohibition of tar-barrels, the emergence of Up-Helly-Aa, change in form, the Galley, beginnings of Viking dress, the Halls and post-war developments. The third chapter looks at the organisation of the event, with sections on preparations, the committee, finance, the proclamation, torches, costumes, stunts and the organisation of squads. Chapter Four describes the festival itself, with sections on the morning, the Muster, the procession, police assistance, the burning, the Halls, photographs and the following day. Chapter Five describes the junior festival. The final chapter describes the interest in the event in Lerwick itself, from absent Lerwegians, from outsiders, individual views on Up-Helly-Aa, the authority of the committee and the Guizer Jarl. Appendices provide some definitions of grülick, guizer, helli and reestit, the texts of three songs, and two early financial accounts. Photographs of the 1968 event are included.

Metadata

Identifier xccjy7f7
IRN 410172
Class Mark LAVC/SRP/2/136
Level File
Type of Record Archives - ISAD(G)
Peristent Link http://prototype1.library.leeds.ac.uk/xccjy7f7
Collection(s) Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Category Archive
Parent Record Undergraduate Dissertations
Creator(s) Nott, Dorothy A
Date 1969
Size and Medium 58 unbound typed leaves; 1 colour, 6 b/w photographs.

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