A second-generation Viking will lead a procession of 15,000 torchbearers through Edinburgh on December 29, 2023. Michael Farmer, the Guizer Jarl of the Shetland Vikings, heads a squad of 40 participants in the city’s annual Torchlight Procession. This event has become a key highlight of the Hogmanay celebrations, bringing together drummers, fire performers, and street theatre.
Farmer, 36, has been involved in the Up Helly Aa festival on Shetland since he was four years old, when he first joined his father in the procession. Despite his extensive experience, this will mark his debut in the Edinburgh event. “I think it’s going to be a lot to take in,” he remarked, reflecting on the grandeur of the procession. “We’ve been looking at videos from previous years, and it’s just overwhelming, really. So we’re all really excited about it.”
The team has spent considerable time preparing for this momentous occasion. Over the past year, they crafted costumes that include an impressive 60,000 pieces of hand-knitted chainmail. Farmer, a joiner by trade, utilized his skills to create shields, weapons, and torches, with the group meeting several nights a week to finalize their attire. “We design the suits, and then we spend all winter making them,” he explained. “We made everything from scratch, apart from the boots and the cloaks, but we had a hand in designing them.”
The Up Helly Aa squad is known for its elaborate costumes, which are first showcased during the festival. “The first time anybody sees them is at the Up Helly Aa festival,” Farmer said. “Putting on the suits, then having a glass of port at 6 a.m. makes you feel like a Viking.” His own memories of participating in the festival include the thrill of wearing the Viking suit and the excitement of being part of the Jarl squad.
Farmer has also included his daughter, Libby, 3, and other young family members in the festivities, allowing them to take part as Viking princesses. “Her favorite song is Helly Aa,” he noted, expressing pride in sharing the tradition with the next generation. The festival culminates in the burning of a wooden galley ship, a highlight that Farmer recalls vividly. “Standing in the galley with 500 torches circling you is something I’ll never forget,” he said. “That was one of the best experiences of my life.”
As the procession winds its way from the Meadows to Castle Terrace, Farmer and his squad of 41 adults and six children will carry the Viking spirit through the heart of Edinburgh. The Torchlight Procession promises to be an exhilarating experience, blending tradition with fiery celebration, and continues to solidify its place in the Hogmanay festivities.
