VisitShetland

Cultural

Cultural Life

Shetland's world-famous music is the heart and soul of the place. Some of the old fiddle tunes are Norwegian - for 600 years the islands were a province of Norway, until mortgaged to Scotland in 1469 as part of a royal wedding dowry (commemorated in Lerwick Town Hall's stained glass windows).

The pledge was never redeemed but islanders continued to speak a form of Old Norse until about 1700. Modern Shetland dialect still uses hundreds of Norwegian words.

Viking boat designs, fire festivals and fiddle music remind us that, over a thousand years ago, Shetland was the first stepping stone on the Vikings' invasion of northern Scotland, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland.

Ancient links with Norway were strengthened during the Second World War, when Shetland was the secret base for resistance fighters raiding their Nazi-occupied homeland. The 'Shetland Bus' museum in the village of Scalloway records this saga of courage and endurance.

Surrounded by fishing grounds and oil & gas fields, Shetlanders have now enjoyed almost Scandinavian prosperity for the past quarter of a century - but also managed to keep their environment largely unspoiled.

Islanders but not insular, Shetlanders are a cosmopolitan lot. Seafaring is a long tradition and, because of the fish trade, Shetland was in regular contact with the outside world from earliest times.
We're still great travellers.

For hundreds of years new islanders have been arriving here - many Shetland families can trace Scots, English, Dutch, German, roots - while others were emigrating. There are probably more people of Shetland descent in Australia, New Zealand and Canada than in Shetland itself. So genealogy is a favourite pastime and many of our visitors come tracing kith and kin.

Shetlanders tend to feel a strong attachment to 'The Auld Rock', a place of intricate heritage as well as great natural beauty. We don't do 'industrial tourism' - to us you're an individual, a welcome guest. We look forward to sharing our lovely islands with you.

• Find out about the new Centre for Nordic Studies which is set to open in Lerwick this year.
• Fair Isle's unique textile heritage is world renowned for stunning design and quality knitwear.  The Textile Workshop offers demonstrations and tuition in textile techniques including knitting, hand spinning, felt making, tapestry weaving, patchwork and quilting.  Individuals and groups of up to 5 people can be accommodated and catered for on short courses.  Email katy.coull@btinternet.com or phone 01595 760248 for further information.
  

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2009 Photo Competition

VisitShetland is pleased to announce the launch of their 5th annual photocompetition.  This year's theme is 'Shetland's Wild Side'.

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2009 Wildlife Holidays In Shetland

Shetland offers the best wildlife-watching in Scotland - FACT.

Over a million breeding seabirds, the highest density of Otters in Europe, regular sightings of Killer Whales and superb displays of rare sub-arctic flora. Our award-winning holidays offer everything from fully guided wildlife weeks and long weekends, dedicated birdwatching holidays plus photographic, walking and insight holidays.

Visit our extensive website www.shetlandwildlife.co.uk or call Shetland Wildlife on 01950 422483 for a choice of over 30 holidays!

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Upcoming Event: Shetland Nature Festival

Shetland's 2nd Nature Festival is set to start this Friday until 12th July.  Don't miss this opportunity to join a variety of specialised wildlife tours with local rangers, photography sessions and expert talks.

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Geopark Shetland Celebrates Shetland Nature Festival

Building on the success of the launch of the Volcano Trail and Geopark Shetland website, Geopark Shetland is holding a number of exciting events to celebrate this years’ Shetland Nature Festival.

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Shetland Museum and Archives seeks information on Emigrants for Hamefarin Exhibition

In 2010, Shetland will host a Hamefarin (homecoming), welcoming Shetlanders from all around the world back to their home islands.  As part of the celebrations Shetland Museum and Archives is developing a special exhibition and are appealing for images and objects relating to Shetland emigrants. (Above photo:  Laurence and Ester Ward on Daytona Beach, Florida, USA, August 1954)

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