France, March 30 -- The people of Shetland, a group of islands north of Scotland, are welcoming the arrival of spring in dramatic style - by burning viking longships. Up Helly Aa was first celebrated in 1881 and is unique to these islands. But it's a tradition that is evolving, with a woman at the heart of it for the first time.

Three hundred people, torches in hand, march through the main street of the fishing village of Cullivoe, on the island of Yell. At the port, they're met by a group of axe-wielding Vikings gathered around a wooden longship.

The leader of the group sets fire to his drakkar - a Viking longship. In the dark of night, one by one, the rest throw their torches onto the blaze. This is the climax ofUp Helly Aa.

Alice Ja...