Celebrations – Up Helly Aa – burning a paper boat

On the last Tuesday in January Shetlanders celebrate Up Helly Aa (info here).   We have no Shetland ancestors but both daddy and I have friends from there.  When I was at college I remember making paper boats and setting fire to them in our flat’s bath so our flatmate could have a very mini Up Helly Aa – even though it really is the males who do the torch carrying and galley burning.

I thought it would be fun to recreate our burring paper boats – possibly slightly crazy to do with a toddler. I had planned to do it outdoors in the afternoon but the weather was wild today.  I made a paper boat all ready for Luath’s bath time.  I placed it in a  tub to keep it contained and to maintain the boats distance from Luath.  Our first boat wouldn't light that well, so I made another one out of toilet paper.  It was a great success, it burned quickly and quite strongly.  I threw water on it to put it out rather than letting it burn out as the flames were pretty high.

 

Luath thought it was great and wanted to do it again but once indoors was enough.
(Luath is 24 months)