The 87th annual College Winter Carnival, a celebration titled, "'Round the Girdled Earth They Roamed: A Prehistoric Carnival," kicked off last night with the opening ceremonies, which included performances, speeches and fireworks.
College President James Freedman, speaking only briefly, declared the Carnival would go on, "snow or no snow," referring to the unusually warm weather and lack of snowfall that has characterized Hanover for the past several weeks.
The ceremonies began when the ski and swim teams marched onto the Green carrying red flares, arrived in front of the finished snow sculpture and faced the crowd of about 500 people.
A brief performance by the Dodecaphonics officially opened the ceremony.
Tim Chow '96, co-chair of the Winter Carnival Committee for a third year, led the ceremonies with tremendous enthusiasm and complimented his fellow committee members for overcoming the recent thaws and for persevering in their preparation for the weekend.
Amy Henry '97, the other Committee co-chair, said she felt that this Carnival would be "a celebration of the outdoors and of all winter sports." She then invited the captains of the alpine ski teams to speak.
Next, Jeremiah Thompson '96, captain of the men's ski team, said "Carnival is a very mystic occasion," and urged everybody to "make the best of the weekend."
"This Carnival should be promising. We're ready to rumble," Norah Stowell '96, captain of the women's ski team, said.
Later, the Rockapellas performed a song to welcome Winter Carnival after reading "The Grinch Who Stole Carnival," a parody of the children's classic, "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," written by Theodore "Dr. Seuss" Giesel '25.
Sarah Paisner '96, snow sculpture chair, took the stage after the Rockapellas to quickly explain how this year's sculpture -- a stegosaurus standing atop a block of ice -- was constructed.
"We used the stomp method with snow and water to make the blocks of snow for the bottom," Paisner said. "A wooden structure with wire mesh and burlap was covered with snow and used for the top."
"I am pleased to see that this is a very large crowd. Usually it's 30 degrees colder," Freedman said. The Green was covered with mud and puddles during this year's ceremony.
The Aires invited Freedman and members of the crowd to join them in a rendition of the College's alma mater.
After the song Freedman remained standing and excitedly told the audience, "I have only one function tonight, and that's to let the Carnival begin."
Following Freedman's brief address, an impressive show of fireworks lit the sky behind New Hampshire residence hall.
Students at the ceremony were preparing for the weekend with much optimism and full of spirit.
"The tradition is my favorite thing about Carnival," Spencer Doyle '98 said. "I love the ice sculpture. Carnival's going to be a blast, a really good party."
"I am so excited," Tully Pruden '99 said. "I just wish there was more snow."
