Through the construction of an elaborate snow sculpture that matches each year's Winter Carnival theme, snow enthusiasts have showcased their talents during Carnival celebrations since 1925.
The sculpture for this year's celebration, which marks the 100th anniversary of Carnival, resembles the first snow sculpture of a medieval castle and commemorates a tradition full of toil, mishaps, activism and recreation.
The 15th Carnival was the first to feature a snow sculpture a miniature castle structure illuminated with searchlights and built on Memorial Field.
In 1987, students built a 47.5-foot snowman playing a saxophone for "Blizzard on Bourbon St.," a Mardi Gras-themed Carnival. Originally designed to be 40 feet tall, the sculpture was named the world's largest snowman by the Guinness Book of World Records and beat a record set just two weeks earlier at Chicago's Greater Woodfield Winter Carnival.
The year's theme also brought about controversy when a letter to the editor of The Dartmouth voiced concerns over Mardi Gras's connection with Catholicism.
Many past sculptures have depicted divine figures. In 1956, a 45-foot sculpture of the Norse god of skiing, Urrl, was erected on the Green.
Others have endured extreme weather conditions. In 1955, a sculpture of Nanook an Eskimo riding a whale had to be destroyed with dynamite because it would not melt.
The snow sculpture of 2009 suffered the opposite fate when it melted days before the start of Carnival and had to be rebuilt for the opening ceremonies.
One day after its completion, rain washed away the stegosaurus sculpture of 1996. In 1980, there was not enough snow on the Green to make a sculpture, and the College brought in snow from the Killington Ski Area in order to complete the structure in time for the festivities.
In 1997, a sculpture intended to be a knight on horseback rearing up and slaying a dragon melted, but the dragon remained intact. Organizers salvaged the sculpture by turning the base into a coffin and burying the knight.
Other factors besides warm weather have also thwarted the sculpture-building efforts over the years.
In 1969, the construction ran so far behind schedule that organizers asked College faculty to aid in the building of the structure. The students offered coffee, hot chocolate, beer and a hot rum drink in exchange for the faculty's help.
In 1943, College administrators canceled Carnival because they thought the celebration of such a "frivolous party" was inappropriate due to the ongoing war, The Dartmouth previously reported.
Students decided to mourn the death of the carnival by building a coffin carrying a snowman with skis at his side and a beer bottle in one hand.
An inscription on the front of the base read: "HERE LIES WINTER CARNIVAL WHO DIED FOR VICTORY."
In recent years, there has been a shortage of students who are willing to help with sculpture construction, The Dartmouth previously reported.
Kegs of beer were once used as an incentive for students who helped build the sculpture, but the College has since banned the presence of kegs on the Green. The College now offers two P.E. credits to those who volunteer to help, The Dartmouth previously reported.
The snow sculpture has also been vandalized in past years. In 1991, students threw red paint on the sculpture of the Roman god Neptune in protest of the Gulf War. In 2003, students inserted a wooden sword into a sculpture of Gandalf, the wizard from "The Lord of Rings."
Since the beginning of the tradition, the design and construction of the snow sculpture has always been carried out by students. The Carnival's student-run Sculpture Council discusses and chooses a design, which administrators approve. The council members then make a clay model as a basis for the project.
Heelers students who help in the sculpture-building process but are not members of the council and council members make the base of the sculpture by stacking snow in a box and carving the design once enough snow has been stacked.
The sculpture is usually finished just in time for the beginning of Carnival, and volunteers work through the night before the festivities commence, The Dartmouth previously reported. In 1987, the sculpture was finished just five minutes before the opening ceremonies.
Many past sculptures have depicted alcohol-related images. In 1939, the centerpiece was a model of college founder Eleazar Wheelock wielding a 15-gallon beer mug, and in 1961, students built a statue of a figured named "Mr. Prohibition" who admonished students with a pointed finger for consuming alcohol over the weekend of Carnival.
Fraternities began to hold sculpture-building contests in front of their houses in 1927. The sculptures were judged by a committee comprised of one architect and two College professors, but this custom eventually gave way to the construction of one main sculpture on the Green. Carnival organizers have revived the contest this year, encouraging Greek houses and other organizations to build their own sculptures.
