Up-Heely-A!

Up-Heely-A! is one of the old Norse customs which still survive in Shetland.

Once every year the descendants of the Vikings assemble at Lerwick to salute the memory of their warrior ancestors, and, incidentally, to enjoy themselves with symbolism, guizing, torchlight processions, bonfires, dancing, and feasting.

In the ancient times the Christmas festivals were continued until late on in January, and "Up-Heely- A!" was the Norse term for finishing up, or the end of the festivities. The special feature of the annual "Up- Heely-A!" celebrations now is the burning of the galley.

When an old Norse King or Jarl lay dying he was carried on board his galley, the galley set afire and sent adrift on the beloved sea the hero-jarl going to his Valhalla with his war song on his lips. Every year a replica of the Norse galley is built at Lerwick, carried in splendour through the town, piled high with flaming torches, which have been used in the procession, and sent blazing adrift on the North Sea as of old—but minus the human freight.

In this year of grace 1913 the leading feature of the "Up-Heely-A!" procession of guizers was of all things on earth or sea twelve Billiard Girls. These Billiard "Girls" took the many thousands of Shetlanders who were gathered at Lerwick from all the islands by storm, and were admitted to be the finest of all the guizers. The Shetland Times says the Billiard Girls gave lead to any of the other guizers. And The Shetland News describes them thus:—

1. BILLIARDS (12).— This was generally regarded as the most prettily dressed squad. Got up as girls, they wore a short green skirt, a facsimile of two billiard cues being crossed in front. Numerous red and white balls, emblematic of the "ivories," adorned the dress, and six network pockets added to the completeness of the get-up.

Each member also carried a genuine cue, and it is recorded that they took as many "Misses" as they could get! The hats worn resembled the well-known green lamp-shade, and one or two of the squad had miniature electric lamps affixed to their head-gear.

We are indebted to Mr. Solotti, of Lerwick, for particulars of the festival and for the photographs which we reproduce in this number. In passing it may be permitted us to wonder what the shades of the old Norse Jarls had thought when their descendants presented to them in this novel way the English firm of Burroughes and Watts.

L. K.