Vikings last night led a torchlight procession in Edinburgh to mark the start of the Scotland’s capital city’s four-day New Year celebrations.
The Up Helly Aa Jarl squad from the Shetlands donned their armour and marched ‘the river of fire’ through the city centre’s streets for the first time in four years as they headed towards the Old Town near Edinburgh Castle.
A ‘drop in available funding and the current economic climate’ were blamed for axing last year’s event, while the Covid pandemic curtailed 2020 and 2021’s celebrations.
Some 20,000 torches lit the streets for last night’s 30th anniversary with street theatre, fire performers, pipe bands and drummers providing entertainment.
Pictures showed the fearsome Vikings carrying lit torches roaring through the city.
The Up Helly Aa Jarl squad from the Shetlands donned their armour and marched ‘the river of fire’ through Edinburgh’s streets
The torchlight procession in Scotland’s capital marks the start of the four-day Hogmanay celebrations
Event organisers Unique Assembly warned weeks earlier the event had reached ‘crisis point’ over funding, and had to bankroll part of the £4million spectacle themselves, according to The Scotsman.
While Cammy Day, the leader of City of Edinburgh Council, has called for a so-called ‘tourist tax’ to help raise around £25million to go towards paying for the city’s festivals.
He has suggested a ‘visitor levy’ of between three and four percent, reported The Guardian.
Last night’s procession started at 7.30pm, led by a marching band and members of the South Mainland Up Helly Aa in Viking costumes, who had travelled down from Shetland.
Torches lit up the sky as the procession left the Meadows, travelling through the Royal Mile, passing by a number of Edinburgh landmarks including Greyfriars Kirkyard, before finishing at Castle Terrace, with Edinburgh Castle in the background.
A percentage of the sales from this year’s procession went to Social Bite, a charity that provides homes, jobs, support and food to homeless people.
Mr Day told the BBC: ‘It [Hogmanay] is also a major contributor to our city’s economy, providing jobs and commercial opportunities for local residents and businesses.
Some 20,000 torches lit the streets for last night’s 30th anniversary with street theatre, fire performers, pipe bands and drummers providing entertainment
Torches lit up the sky as the procession left the Meadows, travelling through the Royal Mile, passing by a number of Edinburgh landmarks including Greyfriars Kirkyard, before finishing at Castle Terrace, with Edinburgh Castle in the background
People during the torchlight procession in Edinburgh city centre. Stephen Jamieson and Findlay Johnstone, both members of the South Mainland Up Helly Aa, were thrilled to be involved
‘This is a time where we can celebrate the best of our city as one year closes and look ahead with pride and positivity to the next.’
Stephen Jamieson and Findlay Johnstone, both members of the South Mainland Up Helly Aa, were thrilled to be involved.
Mr Jamieson said: ‘It was absolutely phenomenal. So many folk out and everybody was cheering us on.
‘We just had a great time and really worthwhile. We hope everybody’s enjoyed it.’
Mr Johnstone added: ‘It was quite a spectacle. When you’re up in the islands it’s just the folk that are from the islands there to see it.
‘So it’s quite nice to see everybody so excited to see it.’
Mark and Karen Sinclair were among the many thousands who lined the streets to witness the procession.
A percentage of the sales from this year’s procession went to Social Bite, a charity that provides homes, jobs, support and food to homeless people
Event organisers Unique Assembly warned weeks earlier the event had reached ‘crisis point’ over funding
Organisers had to bankroll part of the £4million spectacle themselves
Cammy Day, the leader of City of Edinburgh Council, has called for a so-called ‘tourist tax’ to help raise around £25million to go towards paying for the city’s festivals
Cammy Day, the leader of City of Edinburgh Council, said Hogmanay is also a major contributor to our city’s economy
Mr Sinclair, originally from Shetland, now lives in Edinburgh and says he saw a few familiar faces among the South Mainland Up Helly Aa team.
He said: ‘I knew some of the people who were part of the squad so I’ve been speaking to some family and friends who are involved.’
Ms Sinclair rated the procession a ’10 out of 10′ while Mr Sinclair said it was ‘very well organised’.
He added: ‘The whole thing had a very family feel about it, which is great. ‘Given that a lot of the money is going to Social Bite, I would say that if you can, get a torch as well. That’s a really good addition to it and it’s going to a good cause.’