W inter for many can be the worst time of the year, especially if you live in the upper half of the northern hemisphere. The days become shorter, while nights seem to stretch on into eternity. Walking outside is bitter cold, to the point where one’s fingers and toes become numb, only to painfully come back to life when inside. Many, learn to live with something called seasonal depression. With each day, comes a greater longing for summer days, sweating, and ice cream on the beach. Though, this isn’t the case for all, many enjoy the breeze on their face, the exhilaration of winter sports, and the delights of snow sculpting.
For those of us who have tough times, and for those of us that enjoy the white season, there’s something to break up the darkness. In Ottawa, we have Winterlude. It’s a festival that occurs every year in February to celebrate the winter, art, and Canadian culture. One of the focal points of the festival is the ice carving contest that happens annually. In it competitors form crystallized masterpieces that are voted on and displayed throughout the festival. This year added to the lovely ice sculptures are massive snow sculptures.
The festival is broken down into multiple parts, however, two main sections draw the most attention. One is found in the downtown core of Ottawa, near the tomb of the unknown solider. The other is found a few minutes away in downtown Gatineau, Quebec, near the Canadian Museum of Civilization. The downtown section was the place that we visited first.
When we arrived we were greeted by great migrations of people surging in each direction. I noticed a teepee poking out of a crowd of people near us. After finding a suitable spot where I could witness what was occurring, I discovered a group of Inuit people displaying traditional practices. The Inuit, for those who do not know, are indigenous peoples who live in Northern Canada, Greenland and Alaska. When we came, people were singing various Inuit songs. The songs were followed by throat singing; a old practice in which women compete. In Inuit throat singing, women sing in close proximity while maintaining eye-contact. The first person to laugh is the loser. Afterwards, Inuit athletes competed to see who could kick the highest.
Other parts of the Ottawa area included various art projects. One project was a series of ice carved wolves painted in fluorescent colours. Others included structures made of discarded mittens and hockey sticks.
One of the most pronounced things in Winterlude is the Rideau Canal. The Rideau Canal is one of the world’s largest skating rinks, and when it freezes over thousands of people can be spotted. People can skate as far as they please, with the canal covering much of downtown Ottawa. Those who are not skating inclined, such as myself, are welcome to walk. One of the greatest things about Winterlude, and the canal is that they are free. The only things that cost money are food and souvenirs.
The half of Winterlude on the Quebec side was much larger. When we first arrived we were blown away by the giant snow sculptures. One was of two violins, while another gave the appearance of a stone fort. This area comprised of massive sliding hills that were constructed out of snow, delighting children and adults alike. Various performers such as jugglers and people dressed as creatures drifted throughout the scenery.
Another spectacle included a section commemorating the war of 1812. 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the war. Once again, for those not polished on North American history, it’s the war that occurred between Canada and the United States. In it, the Americans invaded Canada, and Canadians with the help of indigenous people, were able to withstand the attack. To celebrate it, people dressed in old regalia played military songs while others played late 18th century games.
Winterlude is something that makes you fall in love with Ottawa. It’s a celebration of our diverse history and cultures. It’s also a place, that on sunny days, can really make you love the winter. Not to mention how miraculous the ice and snow sculptures are. If you ever happen to be in Ottawa during February, make sure you make it out.
- Leia
Travel Photography by AndElsewhere is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
awsome article !!
Ah, it’s things like this that really make me wish Florida got a real winter. The other day I came home from class sweating. It’s the start of February for goodness sake!