The country of the maple leaf is usually associated with the north. In the midst of carnivals, real winter reigns in Canada with severe frosts and heavy snowfalls, and therefore you will not see Caribbean carnival processions with dances and half-naked mulattos here. But this does not mean that the locals do not like to have fun, and an example of the fact that they are not alien to anything festive is the Carnival in Montreal.
It was held for the first time in 1884, when the authorities of the province of Quebec decided to arrange folk festivities to attract American tourists.
At the foot of the Ice Palace
Winter carnivals in Montreal were organized by various city associations, for example, the Snowshoe Walking Club. The project was financed by railroad companies that sold tickets for the Americans' neighbors at huge discounts.
During the old winter carnival, balls, parades and masquerades were held. Active and athletic citizens have participated in hockey competitions, knightly tournaments, dog sled racing and ice skating.
The main symbol of winter carnivals in Montreal was the huge Ice Palace, the height and architecture of which caused the constant delight of local residents and guests of Quebec, and the culmination of the holiday was the storming of the structure by members of snowshoeing clubs:
- The first Ice Palace had walls that were 27 meters long and six meters high.
- The main tower of the structure soared up 27 meters.
- 15-meter towers were built in each corner of the castle.
- In the evenings, the castle was illuminated by two dozen electric lamps.
- The roof of the Ice Palace was built of spruce branches, then filled with ice.
The development of the project for the first palace and its construction were undertaken by a well-known architect in Montreal. A model for A. Kharchitson was the idea of the Ice House of Empress Anna Ioanovna in St. Petersburg.
Under a glass "Caribou"
And yet a certain Caribbean shade is inherent in the carnivals in Montreal. Modern traditions of noisy fun in the first two weeks of February are usually accompanied by the consumption of the Caribou drink. This cocktail of strong liqueur, red wine and maple syrup is especially popular with guests of the holiday.
Participants of the modern carnival, among other entertainment, organize an ice sculpture competition, maneuver canoeing among ice floes on the St. Lawrence River and ride dog sleds.
