SAULT STE. MARIE, MICHIGAN – Lake Superior State University ushered in Spring early today at noon with its 38th annual snowman burning, lighting a fire to their paper snowman's feet.
This year's event featured hot dogs grilled by the LSSU Student Government and poetry by 4th-graders at Washington Elementary School. Poetry has been a part of the ceremony since the beginning (although fewer poets have been willing to read their work at the microphone in recent years). Fourth-grader Eric VanVallis writes:
No more slush.
No more mush.
No more coldness.
No more jackets.
No more boots,
and Especially, no more high heating bills.
If you happen to be in the area you can watch it on TV 9/10 and Fox 33 Cadillac during the Michigan This Morning program starting at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, March 21.
Thursday
38th Annual Snowman Burning
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3 comments:
Hey, Bob, where's the outrage!? How dare they turn our beloved snowicon into some burnt effigy victim?
Sorry, David, no outrage. I love the fact that a snowman has the power and ability to stop everyone in their tracks in this college town and that it's become a symbol of the passing of seasons. How cool is that?
I'm going to post some beautiful photos of the earliest burning snowmen and I think for my last art installment I'll include my short "What's So Funny About Peace, Love & Exploding Snowmen?" for the benefit of those who missed it when it was initially run. Thanks for commenting David and keep in touch.
Of course, I am not exactly outraged myself, and feel much as you do about the power of the symbolism. (I do feel strongly, however, that no one should damage other people's snowmen without permission.) A friend in Michigan has a coworker who went to LSSU. He asked her about the snowburning ritual yesterday, and reports that she participated all four years when she went to LSSU.
She said, "it's how we ring in spring up there. then we go to the nearest bar and get loaded."
My friend says "that's the upper peninsula in a nutshell."
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