The Torches

William “Fejur” Tait (Guizer Jarl 1960) hard at work at the torch making. Photo courtesy of Millgaet Media.

Each year over 1,000 torches are burned between the Senior and junior festival. They are constructed from hessian sacks with a concrete shoulders to ensure it all stays in place for the procession. On the Monday before Up Helly Aa all of these torches are soaked in fuel to ensure they burn well.