In Scotland, the largest fire festival in Europe, Up Helly Aa, took place.

Елена Краснова • 31.01.2026, 20:29 • In the world

On the remote Shetland Islands, despite the approaching storm, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the Up Helly Aa festival, which has its roots in Viking culture. Participants in the march, dressed in masquerade costumes, paraded through the streets of Lerwick, holding glowing torches. The culmination of the celebration was the burning of the drakkar — the traditional Viking ship.

The Up Helly Aa festival, which first took place in the 1880s, has become a symbol of the end of the Yule season in the pre-reform calendar and a tribute to Scotland's Viking heritage. Preparation for this vibrant event is carried out by local volunteers who create the drakkar and make over a thousand torches.

This event annually attracts thousands of participants and spectators from around the world, becoming one of the most thrilling cultural events of winter in Europe.

Read also:

Mongolians took second place at the Snow Sculpture World Championship in the USA. Photo

Mongolians took second place at the Snow Sculpture World Championship in the USA. Photo

From January 14 to 17, 2026, as part of the World Snow Day celebration, the World Championship in...

British couple invited a homeless man for Christmas and he stayed with them for 45 years

British couple invited a homeless man for Christmas and he stayed with them for 45 years

The evening of December 23, 1975, marked the beginning of a long story of friendship and care. At...

Physical: Asia: winners announced – complete final leaderboard and country rankings

Physical: Asia: winners announced – complete final leaderboard and country rankings

This spin-off of the Netflix series Physical: Asia is analyzed in detail by the author here. This...

Chinese astronauts stranded in space due to damage on the spacecraft

Chinese astronauts stranded in space due to damage on the spacecraft

Chinese astronauts are facing issues aboard the Shenzhou-20 spacecraft, which sustained damage...

Winner of the Silk Way Star project — Mongolia — Misheel Joseph. Photo

Winner of the Silk Way Star project — Mongolia — Misheel Joseph. Photo

Misheel Joseph // Photo: Agibai Ayapbergenov / Kazinform The State Advisor of Kazakhstan Erlan...

102-year-old Japanese grandmother: I serve clients from Mongolia, Taiwan, and Germany

102-year-old Japanese grandmother: I serve clients from Mongolia, Taiwan, and Germany

A ramen restaurant worker in Japan, celebrating her centenary, attracts customers from all over...

The Grand Egyptian Museum Has Finally Opened. Now "We Need to Get Our Things Back," - The New York Times

The Grand Egyptian Museum Has Finally Opened. Now "We Need to Get Our Things Back," - The New York Times

The exhibition, which opened for the first time since the excavations of 1922, features more than...

The MongolZ: defying all predictions, dominates in CS2 worldwide – Asia Gaming Briefings

The MongolZ: defying all predictions, dominates in CS2 worldwide – Asia Gaming Briefings

The story of the Mongolian team resembles a fairy tale about a phoenix that has risen from the...

Без изображения

In Astana, the winner of Silk Way Star was chosen: Dimash Kudaibergen presented the award to the finalist.

The project attracted the attention of millions of viewers both in Kazakhstan and beyond...

At Dubai Airshow, a plane crashed

At Dubai Airshow, a plane crashed

During the air show held at the Dubai Airshow 2025, an incident occurred involving a plane....

"War Will Change Beyond Recognition." Colonel of the General Staff of Russia - on the Lessons of Military Actions in Ukraine, Changes in the Army, and the Weapons of the Future

"War Will Change Beyond Recognition." Colonel of the General Staff of Russia - on the Lessons of Military Actions in Ukraine, Changes in the Army, and the Weapons of the Future

The conflict in Ukraine has become a catalyst for changes in the military sphere, destroying...

Winter Kazakhstan: Where Kyrgyzstan Residents Can Travel in the Cold Season

Winter Kazakhstan: Where Kyrgyzstan Residents Can Travel in the Cold Season

Kazakhstan offers a multitude of ski resorts and natural attractions located just a few hours...

Mongolia Elected for the First Time to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee

Mongolia Elected for the First Time to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee

Mongolia became a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, receiving this honor for the...

Legendary Breitling Establishes Itself in Mongolia: 140 Years of Swiss Watch Heritage.

Legendary Breitling Establishes Itself in Mongolia: 140 Years of Swiss Watch Heritage.

Luxury watches are not just an accessory, but an expression of status and individuality. In this...

Mongols Make a Splash in Vietnam. The Mongolian Team Wins the World Championship for the Seventh Time. Photos

Mongols Make a Splash in Vietnam. The Mongolian Team Wins the World Championship for the Seventh Time. Photos

From December 12 to 14, 2025, Vietnam hosted the 34th World Memory Championship (WMC 2025), which...

"Close to the Sun on a Camel": A Camel Festival Took Place in Southern Mongolia. Photos

"Close to the Sun on a Camel": A Camel Festival Took Place in Southern Mongolia. Photos

Last Sunday, a camel festival titled “The Sun is Closer from the Back of a Camel” was held in the...

"America the Beautiful" performed by Sarantuya Batmunkh. Video

"America the Beautiful" performed by Sarantuya Batmunkh. Video

A popular singer from Mongolia, known as Saraa, has presented her version of the famous patriotic...

Mongolian Jew's Harp Players Conquered the International Audience in Japan. Photos

Mongolian Jew's Harp Players Conquered the International Audience in Japan. Photos

From October 24 to 27, 2025, the 10th International Congress and Festival of Jew's Harp Music...

After appearing on the entertainment show "Miracle Coach," the Mongolian woman heads to deliver a crushing blow in Korea's V League.

After appearing on the entertainment show "Miracle Coach," the Mongolian woman heads to deliver a crushing blow in Korea's V League.

Enkhsoel Jamyaanpurev or Inkushi The preparation for the new season of the V League includes an...

Без изображения

Tokaev gave a major interview to the Turkistan newspaper. It covers reforms, AI, nuclear power plants, Nazarbayev, and much more.

Curl error: Operation timed out after 120001 milliseconds with 0 bytes received...

Taikonauts Conducted Experiments with Lithium-Ion Batteries

Taikonauts Conducted Experiments with Lithium-Ion Batteries

On the orbital station "Tiangong," taikonauts conducted scientific experiments with...

A plane from the Mongolian airline Hunnu Air has landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Photo

A plane from the Mongolian airline Hunnu Air has landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Photo

The Philippine Department of Tourism welcomes a charter flight from Mongolia. The Philippines is...

The Central Square of Ulaanbaatar has turned into a Christmas Market. Photo

The Central Square of Ulaanbaatar has turned into a Christmas Market. Photo

In Mongolia, in the capital, the magic of the holidays is felt. A 22-meter New Year tree has been...

A Year of Discoveries Shaping History: Turkey's Archaeological Achievements in 2025

A Year of Discoveries Shaping History: Turkey's Archaeological Achievements in 2025

Turkey, located on the territory of Anatolia, is a place where various civilizations have...

About Erdogan, Maduro, Xi Jinping, and Europe — a major interview with Donald Trump

About Erdogan, Maduro, Xi Jinping, and Europe — a major interview with Donald Trump

Donald Trump // The White House, USA Donald Trump, President of the United States, conducted an...

Mongolia and Turkey Collaborate on Archaeological Research in the Tuul River Valley

Mongolia and Turkey Collaborate on Archaeological Research in the Tuul River Valley

The National Center for Cultural Heritage, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of...

Mongolia ranks among the most developed countries in Asia in the field of water security

Mongolia ranks among the most developed countries in Asia in the field of water security

Over the past 12 years, more than 60% of the population in Asia and the Pacific region, amounting...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Dreams and Dangers of Capital Relocation in a Changing Asia

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Dreams and Dangers of Capital Relocation in a Changing Asia

Mongolia intends to create a new city in the picturesque valley of the Orkhon River. “Some Asian...

The Ambassador of Mongolia made a working visit to Edinburgh

The Ambassador of Mongolia made a working visit to Edinburgh

During his visit, Ambassador Enkhsoh held a meeting with the Honorary Consul of Mongolia, Archie...

How the Church of Jesus Christ Helps Schoolchildren in Rural Mongolia "Dream Bigger". Photo

How the Church of Jesus Christ Helps Schoolchildren in Rural Mongolia "Dream Bigger". Photo

A girl dances in honor of the donation of Chromebook laptops from The Church of Jesus Christ of...

"Decline". How a once-successful Pakistani airline became a symbol of crisis in the country

"Decline". How a once-successful Pakistani airline became a symbol of crisis in the country

The PIA plane at Lahore airport. Photo by Reuters. Pakistan International Airlines, once known as...

Без изображения

Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza: Over 90 People Killed on October 28-29

As reported by medical services in Gaza, as a result of actions by the IDF on October 28 and 29,...

When Will the Stranded Chinese Taikonauts Return to Earth?

When Will the Stranded Chinese Taikonauts Return to Earth?

The crew of the Chinese spacecraft "Shenzhou-20" is expected to return to Earth...

Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire in the area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant for its repairs

Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire in the area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant for its repairs

During the work, specialists from the Ukrainian electricity grid operator will restore the damaged...

Без изображения

How New Year Was Celebrated Around the World. One Video

The New Year 2026 was celebrated in various countries with vibrant shows and impressive fireworks....

A French company with over 100 years of history has won the tender for the development of the master plan for the city of Khunnu.

A French company with over 100 years of history has won the tender for the development of the master plan for the city of Khunnu.

The company Bechu & Associates, with over a hundred years of experience, has won the...

The court released Nicolas Sarkozy from prison

The court released Nicolas Sarkozy from prison

Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president of France, has been released from the Santé prison, where he...

Без изображения

Trump stated that Denmark's historical presence does not mean its rights to Greenland.

During a meeting with representatives of the largest oil companies at the White House, Trump stated...

The uniform of Mongolian athletes for the Winter Olympics has been presented. Video and Photos

The uniform of Mongolian athletes for the Winter Olympics has been presented. Video and Photos

As reported by MiddleAsianNews, we are pleased to present the uniform that the Mongolian team will...

Jaishankar and Modi thanked Bhutan for the warm reception of Buddha's relics

Jaishankar and Modi thanked Bhutan for the warm reception of Buddha's relics

The Indian delegation was warmly welcomed in Bhutan, where the sacred relics of Buddha were...

Без изображения

China has converted a cargo ship into a carrier for strike drones

China has converted a medium cargo ship into a combat vessel capable of carrying modern strike...

Negotiations between Putin and Trump Representatives Took Place in the Kremlin. They Lasted More Than Three Hours

Negotiations between Putin and Trump Representatives Took Place in the Kremlin. They Lasted More Than Three Hours

Meeting of Vladimir Putin with Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Josh Grünbaum During the meeting,...

Askar Akayev — the First President of the Kyrgyz Republic

Askar Akayev — the First President of the Kyrgyz Republic

The President of the Kyrgyz Republic is a nationally elected head of state, a symbol of the unity...