Winterama snow sculptures, scoot and cardboard toboggan races are most memorable, but really the best has to be the Polar Bear Dip.
How long will these crazy kids last in the ice cold water of Penetang’s Bay? The screaming behind the curling rink was what drew the curious; that, and girls, back in the day.
The long, brutally cold winter still held its grip, but who cared? It was the middle of February and the mid-winter spring was already inflaming the fields and snow covered bay.
Of course, Carnival was a great excuse to go party, but up Penetang way, no one needed an excuse to party…and fight if provoked.
They can have their deep blue Toryism and temperance, but leave it in Midland. This was where “la joie de vivre et le goût de vivre,” were to be found.
Between the deep blue waves was also found the green of Celtic shores, the red cap of France and the smell of smoke. No fight, no storming Ottawa, it was already too cold. Let’s Party!
Bear in mind, if you wanted to party, you headed to Penetang before the madness and the spot checks all in the name of safety. Nanny state pops to mind, but is this so? Would they drink if it was not available? Of course we would.
Is this Carnival, celebrated at this time of the year, not a collective madness breaking out in joyous and ecstatic and downright silliness? Yup. See that little ‘ol red hand knitted cap? Uh huh…that SPELLS CARNIVAL!
We have to ask ourselves, in all seriousness, are all hares all mad?
Is Winterama a reflection, with its joyous celebration, of a departing winter and a not yet spring, part of a long and venerable tradition of Les Canadiens? We’d rather party than fight.
René Hackstetter Feb 18, 2021
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