Ch Jetstream Forgetmenot Magnum x

GCH 2x AOM Northwind Dither and Fritz FCH

DOB – 1-21-17           Pedigree (courtesy of the whippet archives)

It’s January. This time of year in Northern Minnesota, winter is truly winter. And yet, winter is a time of beauty and we natives actually enjoy the cold season. This photo is the driveway approach to our house.

Puppies have temporary names for the time they live with us before joining their new families. Next week is the Winter Carnival in St. Paul, one of the largest and oldest in the county. A synonym for carnival is circus. Having a litter of whippet puppies in the middle of winter is a circus in the making. So, all the puppies have names with the winter carnival theme.

Here are the little ice maidens:

“Klondike Kate” – a lady of song and merriment, adds her sassy but enchanting voice to the festivities by singing songs of desire and sentiment.

 

	“Mittens” – If you’re going out on a cold Minnesota night to the carnival, you need toasty warm mittens.

“Snow Queen” – For ten glorious days, there is the Carnival and joyous celebration in Saint Paul — feasting, dancing, fun and frolic reigned over by Boreas and the Queen of Snows, the fairest maiden of the realm.

The merry men of the carnival:

	“Boreas” was the King of the Winds.  In his travels all over the world, he stumbled on Minnesota and determined it was the ideal place for a winter playground – “Realm of Boreas.”

 

“Vulcan” – each year Vulcanus Rex (god of fire and enemy of Boreas) storms the ice castle on the 10th day. Boreas gracefully exits and the carnival ends. You will often hear “Hail Vulc” during the carnival.

 

	“Circus” – is another name for a carnival. Any whippet litter is a circus, especially one in the winter.

“Polar” – many nights at the carnival the actual temperature is zero or less, not to mention the wind chills. Polar temperatures, to be exact.

 

	“Castle” – One of the focus pieces of the winter carnival is an ice palace, or castle. The castle is created by cutting ice from a nearby lake in huge blocks to create the building.

If you’d like to learn more about the legend surrounding the St. Paul Winter Carnival , to learn more about Klondike Kate, Boreas, the Vulcan Krewe and winter activities crazy Minnesotans enjoy, click on Legends for a link to the carnival page.