WATCH: Fire festival season underway as Jarl Thorbjorn leads the charge

And we’re off… fire festival season 2019 kicked off in Scalloway this morning (Friday) with a procession of Vikings through the village.

Guizer Jarl Maurice Jamieson – portraying Thorbjorn Hrollaugsson – led his squad of 51 from Port Arthur along Main Street and towards the Scalloway Youth Centre.

It was a dreich and cold morning but that did little to deter the Jarl’s Squad, who were full-throated in their roars as they marched behind the galley Einram (the name of Mr Jamieson’s daughter Marnie backwards).

The squad was resplendent in long teal kirtles with a suede leather breastplate adorned with a printed serpent design. Icelandic sheepskins, a brown helmet (bearing the same serpent motif) and copper round out the attractive suit.

The serpent motif is a nod to Mr Jamieson’s historical character – chosen because of his connection to Unst and the Guizer Jarl’s own heritage. It is said that when Hrollugsson’s son was killed his serpent sword was returned to him in Unst as a mark of respect.

Speaking before a visit to the Walter and Joan Gray Eventide Home, one of the many calls to be made by the Jarl’s Squad today, the Jarl said it had been a case of “so far so good”, even if the weather was “not the best”.

Calls to a number of schools take place during the morning before an afternoon party entertaining senior citizens at the Scalloway Boating Club.

The Shetland Times will be in Scalloway again this evening to get footage of the evening procession before the squads proceed with a night of revelry across Scalloway, Tingwall and Burra. Check back later today for a video of the burning.

NO COMMENTS

Add Your Comment

Add Your Comment

Please note, it is the policy of The Shetland Times to publish comments and letters from named individuals only. Both forename and surname are required.

Comments are moderated. Contributors must observe normal standards of decency and tolerance for the opinions of others.

The views expressed are those of contributors and not of The Shetland Times.

The Shetland Times reserves the right to decline or remove any contribution without notice or stating reason.

Comments are limited to 200 words but please email longer articles or letters to editorial@shetlandtimes.co.uk for consideration and include a daytime telephone number and your address. If emailing information in confidence please put "Not for publication" in both the subject line and at the top of the main message.

200 words left

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.