After Hogmanay - Fire & Water

A couple of Scottish celebrations that happen after New Year's Eve stem from pagan festivals honoring the elements of fire and ice.

Celebrating the connection between the Vikings and the Scots, especially in the far north of Scotland, Up Helly Aa takes place the last Tuesday of every January. This is the largest fire festival in the world and features a torch-light procession of up to a thousand 'guizers', those disguised as Vikings, through the streets of Lerwick to where a full size replica of a Viking ship is ceremonially burned. After the burning it is time to dance, drink and party--and this is all to commemorate the Norse rituals at the cremation of their great chieftains. Fire is also thought of as a purifying force to scare away evil, so many winter festivals use bonfires all over Scotland.

Despite the cold of winter, water is also celebrated on New Year's Day by dooks, or swims. The most well-known event is the Loony Dook that takes place at South Queensferry of the River Forth. Every year a crowd of brave or "loony" people, from all over the world,  will jump into the icy waters--some in costume.

Have a look at the video and watch the 'guizers' march and then burn the galley.