This can only mean one thing:
It must be time for the Fur Rondevous! I have been looking forward to Fur Rondy since we moved up here and I first started looking into cool things to do in Alaska. Fur Rondy is born out of the old Alaskan tradition of fur and hide trading that would happen near the end of winter every year. It is still cold and snowy, but by February it is light out during the day again. Naturally, as people gathered from all over the state after a lonely winter in the wilderness, they not only wanted to trade animal skins but also have a good time! Fur Rondy is the continuation of that tradition. There are still hide and fur auctions, native crafts, the beard contest, and the Miner and Trapper's Ball (a fancy ball where everyone wears funny costumes.) Newer traditions have become really popular too. There is a snowshoe softball tournament, a snow sculpture contest, a race where people put outhouses on skis and push them down the street. There's a full on carnival with rides and everything downtown, even though it's freezing outside. We got to check out a lot the fun and browse all the shops and stands. I was tempted but did not buy any fur...it's crazy expensive. We stayed in our car to watch the fireworks, but we did venture out some of the time. Here's a few pictures from our wanderings during Fur Rondy:
 |
| Tools for the snow sculptures. A few of our favorites are below. |
 |
| Alaskan Natives used the blanket toss to alert villagers of a successful hunt. At fur rondy, kids just get to be tossed up in the air for fun. |
2 comments:
we love taking about our outdoor-loving friends living in alaska. i would freeze and complain everyday. but then again you get to see crazy kids in fur and ice sculptures just hanging out. very cool.
How fun! We did a fake rendezvous in my Utah studies class where we traded paper beaver pelts for candy or games. I would love to go to a real one!
Post a Comment