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About SMUHA - South Mainland Up Helly Aa
Website and contents © South Mainland Up Helly Aa Committee. Photographs © respective photographers.
The Formation of SMUHA
The South Mainland Up Helly Aa is the most recent Up Helly Aa festival to be celebrated in Shetland with the inaugural year in 2010. The subject of a South Mainland festival had been debated back and forth for many years and came close to fruition in the late 1990's but didnt quite made it off the ground. In 2009 however, discussions took a big step forward when it was announced in the 'Shetland Times' that a public meeting was organised for 22nd February 2009 to guage public interest in such an event. A fair number of folk turned up, so a steering group was formed to see if it was feasible. The original idea was to have just one hall, and perhaps four or five squads.
Interest far exceeded expectations however, and representatives from over twenty squads turned up, meaning more halls were needed. Four halls were then allocated – Bigton, Gulberwick, the Ness Boating Club and the Sandwick Social Club, but such was the demand for tickets that they all sold out very quickly - the Sandwick Social Club in just 2 hours. Cunningsburgh Hall was therefore added to try and accomodate as many folk as possible and this too sold out very quickly.
The inagural SMUHA committee had invaluable help and assistance from the Lerwick and Delting Up Helly Aa Committees to organise the 2010 event from scratch. This included organising the halls, making the galley and trailer, making torches, setting out the procession route and burning site, finding marshals, producing and printing programmes and dealing with a host of health and safety regulations. The committee had monthly meetings during the year, as well as extra fund-raising sessions, which became a weekly meeting closer to the event.
The Guizer Jarl
Rather than choose a Guizer Jarl each year from anywhere in the south Mainland the inaugural committee of 2009/10 decided that the south Mainland would be split into 5 'areas' with a Guizer Jarl chosen from each. Each 'area' then takes it in turn to host the SMUHA on a 5 year rotation. The 'areas' are the main centres of population and are [approximately] Gulberwick & Quarff, Cunningsburgh & Fladdabister, Sandwick & Hoswick, Bigton & Levenwick, and Dunrossness. The order of the areas rotation and the initial 5 Guizer Jarl's were decided at the inaugural mass meeting in 2009 and are:
2010 - Bigton & Levenwick - David Smith
2011 - Dunrossness - Brydon Robertson
2012 - Cunningsburgh & Fladdabister - Kevin Adamson
2013 - Sandwick & Hoswick - Dale Smith
2014 - Gulberwick & Quarff - Keith Lobban
The 2015 area then returns to Bigton & Levenwick and the cycle is repeated. A new Guizer Jarl for the 2015 SMUHA is therefore chosen at the annual Mass meeting & AGM held in October 2010, a new Jarl for Dunrossness at the Mass meeting in October 2011, and so on.
The Jarl's Squad consists of the Guizer Jarl (the chief Guizer) and a squad of men, women and children. The Jarl's Squad may range greatly in size with the Guizer Jarl deciding on the final numbers. Each Guizer Jarl also chooses and portray's a figure from Viking history each year.
Each Jarl's Squad design and make their own suits, and each year the suits are different. Preparation begins well in advance and each Jarl's Squad regalia is a closely guarded secret up to the day of the SMUHA. The Jarl squad also design and manufacture a shield to match their costume or highlight the Viking theme which the squad has chosen to represent, along with viking weaponry, in the form of an axe or similar.
On the Day of the SMUHA
The programme of events and visitations by the Guizer Jarl and his squad may vary from year to year but in general however, the visits start with the Jarl's Squad and the years Galley visiting either or both of the Lerwick schools. Although not part of the south Mainland, many folk involved with the SMUHA live in or have strong ties with Lerwick and the schools are very happy to receive a SMUHA visit. The south Mainland schools of Cunningsburgh, Sandwick and Dunrossness are visited during the day along the with the care home at Levenwick. Each years Jarl's squad may also decide to undertake other visits to places important to them. Locations for the Jarl's squad breakfast, lunch and dinner may also vary from year to year. The Jarl's Squad programme of events for the day are posted on the home page of this website.
The Galley
A galley is built each year by members of the SMUHA committee, members of the years Jarl's Squad and interested helpers. The galley is designed and constructed as a boat and is burnt while afloat. The galley colours vary from year to year and are chosen by the Guizer Jarl. The Dragon Head design is based on the well-known dragon head stone carving found at Jarlshof.
The Bill
The hand painted 'Bill' or proclamation is created in secret each year and pokes fun at the local community, individuals or events from the previous year. The Guizer Jarl gives his seal of approval by signing the Bill. The decorative 'Bill Head' is painted each year by a local artist chosen by the Guizer Jarl and usually depicts a scene from the Guizer Jarl’s chosen Viking saga. The years Bill is located at a focal point for the area hosting the years SMUHA. In 2010 it was outside the Bigton shop, in 2011 it was at Mainland's shop, in 2012 the Cunningsburgh shop, etc. At some point during the day, usually late morning, the Jarl's Squad and Galley visit the location of the Bill and pose with the years galley for photographs. The Bill is removed before the procession and the Bill Head is presented to the Jarl at the Hop Night the following evening.
The Torches
Around 400 torches are burned for the evening procession and during the preceeding winter the Torch Boys meet twice a week to make them. They are constructed from hessian sacks with a concrete shoulder to ensure they remain intact during the procession. The day before the SMUHA the torches are soaked in fuel to ensure they burn.
The Procession and Burning of the Galley
As there are 5 'areas' hosting the SMUHA there are different locations for the evening procession and burning of the Galley. In 2010 the procession was through Bigton with the burning at St. Ninian's Isle Ayre. In 2011 the procession was along the Sumburgh Lighthouse road with the burning at Grutness beach. Each of the 5 areas has a provisional procession and burning site although the differing locations require differing levels of logistical support. As each SMUHA procession and burning site is confirmed it will be posted on the home page of this website. If an areas chosen site becomes unavailable the procession and burning may be moved back to a previously used site.
Participating squads muster at an appointed location at 7pm and are marshalled to receive torches for the evening procession. At 7:20pm the Jarl's Squad march up the ranks and at 7:30pm a maroon or flare signalls the start of the lighting up. The procession then moves off to the burning site (accompanied by a brass band), led by the Jarl's Squad and Galley. The Guizers sing the Up Helly Aa song during the procession.
The Evening Halls and Squad Acts
Following the procession and burning of the years galley the participating squads are invited to (currently 5) halls in turn where they each perform an act or dance routine. Entry to all the halls is by ticket only and tickets for all the halls usually sell out very quickly. The halls currenly used are: Gulberwick Hall, Cunningsburgh Hall, Sandwick Social Club, Bigton Hall and the Ness Boating Club. Squads perform in each of the halls in rotation into the early hours of the following day.
The South Mainland Up Helly Aa is the most recent Up Helly Aa festival to be celebrated in Shetland with the inaugural year in 2010. The subject of a South Mainland festival had been debated back and forth for many years and came close to fruition in the late 1990's but didnt quite made it off the ground. In 2009 however, discussions took a big step forward when it was announced in the 'Shetland Times' that a public meeting was organised for 22nd February 2009 to guage public interest in such an event. A fair number of folk turned up, so a steering group was formed to see if it was feasible. The original idea was to have just one hall, and perhaps four or five squads.
Interest far exceeded expectations however, and representatives from over twenty squads turned up, meaning more halls were needed. Four halls were then allocated – Bigton, Gulberwick, the Ness Boating Club and the Sandwick Social Club, but such was the demand for tickets that they all sold out very quickly - the Sandwick Social Club in just 2 hours. Cunningsburgh Hall was therefore added to try and accomodate as many folk as possible and this too sold out very quickly.
The inagural SMUHA committee had invaluable help and assistance from the Lerwick and Delting Up Helly Aa Committees to organise the 2010 event from scratch. This included organising the halls, making the galley and trailer, making torches, setting out the procession route and burning site, finding marshals, producing and printing programmes and dealing with a host of health and safety regulations. The committee had monthly meetings during the year, as well as extra fund-raising sessions, which became a weekly meeting closer to the event.
The Guizer Jarl
Rather than choose a Guizer Jarl each year from anywhere in the south Mainland the inaugural committee of 2009/10 decided that the south Mainland would be split into 5 'areas' with a Guizer Jarl chosen from each. Each 'area' then takes it in turn to host the SMUHA on a 5 year rotation. The 'areas' are the main centres of population and are [approximately] Gulberwick & Quarff, Cunningsburgh & Fladdabister, Sandwick & Hoswick, Bigton & Levenwick, and Dunrossness. The order of the areas rotation and the initial 5 Guizer Jarl's were decided at the inaugural mass meeting in 2009 and are:
2010 - Bigton & Levenwick - David Smith
2011 - Dunrossness - Brydon Robertson
2012 - Cunningsburgh & Fladdabister - Kevin Adamson
2013 - Sandwick & Hoswick - Dale Smith
2014 - Gulberwick & Quarff - Keith Lobban
The 2015 area then returns to Bigton & Levenwick and the cycle is repeated. A new Guizer Jarl for the 2015 SMUHA is therefore chosen at the annual Mass meeting & AGM held in October 2010, a new Jarl for Dunrossness at the Mass meeting in October 2011, and so on.
The Jarl's Squad consists of the Guizer Jarl (the chief Guizer) and a squad of men, women and children. The Jarl's Squad may range greatly in size with the Guizer Jarl deciding on the final numbers. Each Guizer Jarl also chooses and portray's a figure from Viking history each year.
Each Jarl's Squad design and make their own suits, and each year the suits are different. Preparation begins well in advance and each Jarl's Squad regalia is a closely guarded secret up to the day of the SMUHA. The Jarl squad also design and manufacture a shield to match their costume or highlight the Viking theme which the squad has chosen to represent, along with viking weaponry, in the form of an axe or similar.
On the Day of the SMUHA
The programme of events and visitations by the Guizer Jarl and his squad may vary from year to year but in general however, the visits start with the Jarl's Squad and the years Galley visiting either or both of the Lerwick schools. Although not part of the south Mainland, many folk involved with the SMUHA live in or have strong ties with Lerwick and the schools are very happy to receive a SMUHA visit. The south Mainland schools of Cunningsburgh, Sandwick and Dunrossness are visited during the day along the with the care home at Levenwick. Each years Jarl's squad may also decide to undertake other visits to places important to them. Locations for the Jarl's squad breakfast, lunch and dinner may also vary from year to year. The Jarl's Squad programme of events for the day are posted on the home page of this website.
The Galley
A galley is built each year by members of the SMUHA committee, members of the years Jarl's Squad and interested helpers. The galley is designed and constructed as a boat and is burnt while afloat. The galley colours vary from year to year and are chosen by the Guizer Jarl. The Dragon Head design is based on the well-known dragon head stone carving found at Jarlshof.
The Bill
The hand painted 'Bill' or proclamation is created in secret each year and pokes fun at the local community, individuals or events from the previous year. The Guizer Jarl gives his seal of approval by signing the Bill. The decorative 'Bill Head' is painted each year by a local artist chosen by the Guizer Jarl and usually depicts a scene from the Guizer Jarl’s chosen Viking saga. The years Bill is located at a focal point for the area hosting the years SMUHA. In 2010 it was outside the Bigton shop, in 2011 it was at Mainland's shop, in 2012 the Cunningsburgh shop, etc. At some point during the day, usually late morning, the Jarl's Squad and Galley visit the location of the Bill and pose with the years galley for photographs. The Bill is removed before the procession and the Bill Head is presented to the Jarl at the Hop Night the following evening.
The Torches
Around 400 torches are burned for the evening procession and during the preceeding winter the Torch Boys meet twice a week to make them. They are constructed from hessian sacks with a concrete shoulder to ensure they remain intact during the procession. The day before the SMUHA the torches are soaked in fuel to ensure they burn.
The Procession and Burning of the Galley
As there are 5 'areas' hosting the SMUHA there are different locations for the evening procession and burning of the Galley. In 2010 the procession was through Bigton with the burning at St. Ninian's Isle Ayre. In 2011 the procession was along the Sumburgh Lighthouse road with the burning at Grutness beach. Each of the 5 areas has a provisional procession and burning site although the differing locations require differing levels of logistical support. As each SMUHA procession and burning site is confirmed it will be posted on the home page of this website. If an areas chosen site becomes unavailable the procession and burning may be moved back to a previously used site.
Participating squads muster at an appointed location at 7pm and are marshalled to receive torches for the evening procession. At 7:20pm the Jarl's Squad march up the ranks and at 7:30pm a maroon or flare signalls the start of the lighting up. The procession then moves off to the burning site (accompanied by a brass band), led by the Jarl's Squad and Galley. The Guizers sing the Up Helly Aa song during the procession.
The Evening Halls and Squad Acts
Following the procession and burning of the years galley the participating squads are invited to (currently 5) halls in turn where they each perform an act or dance routine. Entry to all the halls is by ticket only and tickets for all the halls usually sell out very quickly. The halls currenly used are: Gulberwick Hall, Cunningsburgh Hall, Sandwick Social Club, Bigton Hall and the Ness Boating Club. Squads perform in each of the halls in rotation into the early hours of the following day.
The Up Helly-Aa Song
From grand old Viking centuries Up-Helly-A' has come,
Then light the torch and form the march, and sound the rolling drum:
And wake the mighty memories of heroes that are dumb;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus:
Grand old Vikings ruled upon the ocean vast,
Their brave battle-songs still thunder on the blast;
Their wild war-cry comes a-ringing from the past;
We answer it "A-oi"!
Roll their glory down the ages,
Sons of warriors and sages,
When the fight for Freedom rages,
Be bold and strong as they!
Of yore, our firey fathers sped upon the Viking Path;
Of yore, their dreaded dragons braved the ocean in its wrath;
And we, their sons, are reaping now their glory's aftermath;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
In distant lands, their raven-flag flew like a blazing star;
And foreign foemen, trembling, heard their battle-cry afar;
And they thundered o'er the quaking earth, those mighty men of war;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
From grand old Viking centuries Up-Helly-A' has come,
Then light the torch and form the march, and sound the rolling drum:
And wake the mighty memories of heroes that are dumb;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus:
Grand old Vikings ruled upon the ocean vast,
Their brave battle-songs still thunder on the blast;
Their wild war-cry comes a-ringing from the past;
We answer it "A-oi"!
Roll their glory down the ages,
Sons of warriors and sages,
When the fight for Freedom rages,
Be bold and strong as they!
Of yore, our firey fathers sped upon the Viking Path;
Of yore, their dreaded dragons braved the ocean in its wrath;
And we, their sons, are reaping now their glory's aftermath;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
In distant lands, their raven-flag flew like a blazing star;
And foreign foemen, trembling, heard their battle-cry afar;
And they thundered o'er the quaking earth, those mighty men of war;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
Although the Lerwick Up Helly Aa is the biggest Fire Festival in Shetland each year, with the formation of SMUHA there are
now 12 Up Helly Aa Festivals held in Shetland during the first 3 months of each year. Those outwith Lerwick (usually referred
to as 'country Up Helly Aa's'), are smaller but they are nevertheless spectacular. The only Up Helly Aa date set in stone is
Lerwick – the others may not happen each year and the dates may vary - but the usual dates for all the festivals (in the order
they occur), are shown below:
Scalloway Fire Festival – Second Friday of January
Lerwick Senior Up Helly Aa – Last Tuesday of January
Lerwick Junior Up Helly Aa – Last Tuesday of January
Nesting & Girlsta Up Helly Aa - 10 days after Lerwick
Uyeasound Up Helly Aa – Second Friday of February
Northmavine Up Helly Aa – Third Friday of February
Bressay Up Helly Aa – Last Friday of February
Cullivoe Up Helly Aa – Last Friday of February
Norwick Up-Helly-Aa - Last Saturday of February
South Mainland Up Helly Aa – Second Friday of March
Walls Junior Up Helly Aa - Second Saturday of March
Delting Up Helly Aa – Third Friday of March
Scalloway Fire Festival – Second Friday of January
Lerwick Senior Up Helly Aa – Last Tuesday of January
Lerwick Junior Up Helly Aa – Last Tuesday of January
Nesting & Girlsta Up Helly Aa - 10 days after Lerwick
Uyeasound Up Helly Aa – Second Friday of February
Northmavine Up Helly Aa – Third Friday of February
Bressay Up Helly Aa – Last Friday of February
Cullivoe Up Helly Aa – Last Friday of February
Norwick Up-Helly-Aa - Last Saturday of February
South Mainland Up Helly Aa – Second Friday of March
Walls Junior Up Helly Aa - Second Saturday of March
Delting Up Helly Aa – Third Friday of March
A Brief History of the Up Helly Aa Fire Festival
The Up Helly Aa Fire Festival is a tradition that originated in Lerwick in the the late 1800's when rival groups of Lerwick youths dragged sledges with burning tar barrels on them through the town as part of Yule festivities. Associated with it however, was percieved vandalism such as burning paint off doors, breaking windows or smearing buildings with tar. Because of this the Lerwick Magistrates banned the practice in 1874. Following the ban there were occasional attempts at torch-lit processions around Christmas and New Year in Lerwick, until 1881 when a procession was held on 29th January. This date was the Lerwick Up Helly Aa day (or the 24th day after Yule), the pre-Christian festival which later became associated with Christmas. This continued into the 1900's until in 1908, for convenience, it was decided to hold the event on the last Tuesday of January, and this has been the custom in Lerwick ever since.
The Up Helly Aa Fire Festival is a tradition that originated in Lerwick in the the late 1800's when rival groups of Lerwick youths dragged sledges with burning tar barrels on them through the town as part of Yule festivities. Associated with it however, was percieved vandalism such as burning paint off doors, breaking windows or smearing buildings with tar. Because of this the Lerwick Magistrates banned the practice in 1874. Following the ban there were occasional attempts at torch-lit processions around Christmas and New Year in Lerwick, until 1881 when a procession was held on 29th January. This date was the Lerwick Up Helly Aa day (or the 24th day after Yule), the pre-Christian festival which later became associated with Christmas. This continued into the 1900's until in 1908, for convenience, it was decided to hold the event on the last Tuesday of January, and this has been the custom in Lerwick ever since.
Old postcard depicting Lerwick Up Helly Aa, circa 1906
Also In 1881, a 'Worthy Chief Guizer' was chosen to lead the Lerwick procession, and in 1906 the leader appeared in Viking
costume for the first time and was renamed 'Guizer Jarl' (Earl). The first Lerwick 'Jarl's Squad' appeared in 1921 with the
Jarl's personal group all being dressed in Viking costume. By this time, a model Viking longship 'Da Galley', had been added
to the procession to be set alight with the torches. At the outbreak of the First World War there were around 300 guizers
taking part in the Lerwick festival, by 1949 this had risen to over 600, with the number steadily rising until levelling out at
around 900 in the current festival.
The Galley Song
Floats the ravan banner o'er us,
Round our Dragon Ship we stand,
Voices joined in gladsome chorus,
Raised aloft the flaming brand.
Every guizer has a duty
When he joins the festive throng
Honour, freedom, love and beauty
In the feast, the dance, the song.
Worthy sons of Vikings make us,
Truth be our encircling fire
Shadowy visions backward take us
To the Sea-King's fun'ral pyre.
Bonds of Brotherhood inherit,
O'er strife the curtain draw;
Let our actions breathe the spirit
Of our grand Up-Helly-A'.
Written by John Nicolson, to the tune of an old Norwegian folk song.
The Norseman's Home
The Norseman's home in days gone by, was on the rolling sea,
And there his pennon did defy, the foe of Normandy.
Then let us ne'er forget the race, who bravely fought and died,
Who never filled a craven's grave, but ruled the foaming tide.
For noble spiprits bold and free, too narrow was their land!
They rov'd the wide expansive sea, and quelled the Norman band.
Then let us all in harmony, give honour to the brave,
The noble, hardy, Northern men, who ruled the stormy wave.
Words and Music Norse Traditional, Arranged by Ronnie Mathewson
Floats the ravan banner o'er us,
Round our Dragon Ship we stand,
Voices joined in gladsome chorus,
Raised aloft the flaming brand.
Every guizer has a duty
When he joins the festive throng
Honour, freedom, love and beauty
In the feast, the dance, the song.
Worthy sons of Vikings make us,
Truth be our encircling fire
Shadowy visions backward take us
To the Sea-King's fun'ral pyre.
Bonds of Brotherhood inherit,
O'er strife the curtain draw;
Let our actions breathe the spirit
Of our grand Up-Helly-A'.
Written by John Nicolson, to the tune of an old Norwegian folk song.
The Norseman's Home
The Norseman's home in days gone by, was on the rolling sea,
And there his pennon did defy, the foe of Normandy.
Then let us ne'er forget the race, who bravely fought and died,
Who never filled a craven's grave, but ruled the foaming tide.
For noble spiprits bold and free, too narrow was their land!
They rov'd the wide expansive sea, and quelled the Norman band.
Then let us all in harmony, give honour to the brave,
The noble, hardy, Northern men, who ruled the stormy wave.
Words and Music Norse Traditional, Arranged by Ronnie Mathewson
On distant seas, their dragon-prows went gleaming outward bound,
The storm-clouds were their banners, and their music ocean's sound;
And we, their sons, go sailing still the wide earth round and round;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
No more Thor's lurid Hammer flames against the northern sky;
No more from Odin's shining halls the dark valkyrior fly;
Before the Light the heathen Night went slowly rolling by;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
We are the sons of mightly sires, whose souls were staunch and strong;
We sweep upon our serried foes, the hosts of Hate and Wrong;
The glory of a grander Age has fired our battle-song;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
Our galley is the People's Right, the dragon of the free;
The Right that rising in its might, brings tyrants to their knee;
The flag that flies above us is the Love of Liberty;
The waves are rolling on.
Words by J. J. Haldane Burgess, music by Thomas Manson
The storm-clouds were their banners, and their music ocean's sound;
And we, their sons, go sailing still the wide earth round and round;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
No more Thor's lurid Hammer flames against the northern sky;
No more from Odin's shining halls the dark valkyrior fly;
Before the Light the heathen Night went slowly rolling by;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
We are the sons of mightly sires, whose souls were staunch and strong;
We sweep upon our serried foes, the hosts of Hate and Wrong;
The glory of a grander Age has fired our battle-song;
The waves are rolling on.
Chorus
Our galley is the People's Right, the dragon of the free;
The Right that rising in its might, brings tyrants to their knee;
The flag that flies above us is the Love of Liberty;
The waves are rolling on.
Words by J. J. Haldane Burgess, music by Thomas Manson
Up Helly Aa Songs
There are three songs most commonly associated with Up Helly Aa. The words of these are below. However all the Jarl Squads usually sing an abridged version of the Up Helly Aa song and the Galley song - the words of which are shown below in italics:
From grand old Viking centuries Up-Helly-A' has come
Then light the torch and form the march, and sound the rolling drum
And wake the mighty memories of heroes that are dumb
The waves are rolling on
Grand old Vikings ships ruled upon the ocean vast
Their brave battle-songs still thunder on the blast
Their wild war-cry comes a-ringing from the past
We answer it "A-oi"
Roll their glory down the ages
Sons of warriors and sages
When the fight for Freedom rages
Be bold and strong as they
Floats the ravan banner o'er us
Round our Dragon Ship we stand
Voices joined in gladsome chorus
Raised aloft the flaming brand
Voices joined in gladsome chorus
Raised aloft the flaming brand
Every guizer has a duty
When he joins the festive throng
Honour, freedom, love and beauty
In the feast, the dance, the song.
Honour, freedom, love and beauty, beauty
In the feast, the dance, the song.
There are three songs most commonly associated with Up Helly Aa. The words of these are below. However all the Jarl Squads usually sing an abridged version of the Up Helly Aa song and the Galley song - the words of which are shown below in italics:
From grand old Viking centuries Up-Helly-A' has come
Then light the torch and form the march, and sound the rolling drum
And wake the mighty memories of heroes that are dumb
The waves are rolling on
Grand old Vikings ships ruled upon the ocean vast
Their brave battle-songs still thunder on the blast
Their wild war-cry comes a-ringing from the past
We answer it "A-oi"
Roll their glory down the ages
Sons of warriors and sages
When the fight for Freedom rages
Be bold and strong as they
Floats the ravan banner o'er us
Round our Dragon Ship we stand
Voices joined in gladsome chorus
Raised aloft the flaming brand
Voices joined in gladsome chorus
Raised aloft the flaming brand
Every guizer has a duty
When he joins the festive throng
Honour, freedom, love and beauty
In the feast, the dance, the song.
Honour, freedom, love and beauty, beauty
In the feast, the dance, the song.