Watch: Dancing, parties, and a taste of Up Helly Aa fire festival, make Perthshire the place to be at New Year By Jamie Buchan January 3 2015, 9:00am January 3 2015, 9:00am Share Watch: Dancing, parties, and a taste of Up Helly Aa fire festival, make Perthshire the place to be at New Year Share via Facebook Twitter Linkedin Whatsapp Messenger Email Post link https://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/perth-kinross/125048/watch-dancing-parties-and-a-taste-of-up-helly-aa-fire-festival-make-perthshire-the-place-to-be-at-new-year/ Copy Link Families flocked to Pitlochry to blow away the Hogmanay cobwebs in style at one of Scotland’s biggest New Year’s Day celebrations. The town hosted its traditional Ne’erday Street Party, complete with Vikings, clowns and live music. Thousands braved the dreich conditions to join the celebrations on Atholl Road. Among the highlights was an appearance by Shetland’s Up Helly Aa Viking Fire Festival Jarl Squad. On Hogmanay, crowds lined the streets of Comrie for its hugely popular Flambeaux procession. The evening began with a fancy dress parade, before fireworks at the Boulevard. At midnight, flaming torches were carried around the village, led by Comrie Pipe Band. The 12 flambeaux were taken to four corners of the village in a tradition that dates back to an ancient ritual once used to ward off evil spirits.
