En images: la très masculine fête des Vikings des îles Shetland, femmes admises désormais
La fête des Vikings a fait son retour mardi à Lerwick, ville portuaire des îles Shetland, au nord de l’Ecosse, après deux ans d’absence en raison du Covid et avec une nouveauté: les femmes sont désormais autorisées dans la procession.
Baptisé « Up Helly Aa », ou « fête du feu », ce festival célèbre l’histoire Viking de cet archipel britannique situé entre le nord de l’Ecosse et la Norvège.
Les îles Shetland ont été conquises par les Vikings dans le courant du IXe siècle et sont restées norvégiennes six siècles durant, avant que les Écossais n’en prennent le contrôle en 1472.
Organisé chaque dernier mardi du mois de janvier depuis la fin du XIXe siècle, le festival culmine avec une parade de plusieurs centaines de personnes déguisées en guerriers Vikings, brandissant épées et bouclier.
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ prepare to parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ prepare to parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ pose for photographs with their Viking galley ship in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ pose for photographs with their Viking galley ship in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ prepare to parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ prepare to parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ pose for photographs with their Viking galley ship in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Members of the Up Helly Aa ‘Jarl Squad’ pose for photographs with their Viking galley ship in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 before the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
La marche est ouverte par le « Guizer Jarl », le chef viking. Elle se poursuit avec une procession aux flambeaux et la mise à feu d’un drakkar spécialement construit pour l’occasion. La fête continuera jusqu’au petit matin avec des danses.
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Le festival a décidé l’an dernier d’assouplir la tradition qui n’autorisait que les hommes à participer à la procession. « C’est quelque chose que les membres de notre communauté demandent depuis longtemps », a expliqué un porte-parole du festival.
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Young participants parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 as they take part in the Junior Up Helly Aa fire festival. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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A young participant parades through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 while taking part in the Junior Up Helly Aa fire festival. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Young participants parade through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 as they take part in the Junior Up Helly Aa fire festival. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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A young participant parades through the streets in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023 while taking part in the Junior Up Helly Aa fire festival. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
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Participants take part in the Up Helly Aa festival parade through the streets of Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 31, 2023. – Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 ‘guizers’ (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP)
Cependant, aucune femme n’a pris place dans la principale escouade, qui ouvre la procession. Selon les organisateurs du festival, c’est parce que celle-ci a été formée en 2021, avant que les femmes ne soient autorisées.
« Bien sûr c’est un évènement très très traditionnel, mais oui, c’est trop tard », juge Janet Smith, une étudiante interrogée par l’AFP au sujet de l’ouverture de la procession aux femmes.
« L’ambiance est si bonne en ville », se réjoui pour sa part Gary Smith, qui fait partie de la principale escouade. « C’est si bon d’être en famille et entre amis et de célébrer cette merveilleuse journée », explique-t-il à l’AFP, un casque de Viking sur la tête.