Barbie and Parasol

Barbie and Parasol

A windchill of minus 40?  Snow, snow, snow?  Do you think Barbie cares?

Barbie hasn't had a wedding all week and the Southern Belle look suits this weather perfectly. 

The shape of the skirt reminds me of those birthday cakes they make sometimes.  Don't try to eat this Barbie.  I can assure you, the plastic used for Barbies is really hard to chew.

Valentine Barbie Hot

Valentine Barbie Hot

The male bower bird is a most attractive bird in that it attracts its mate by building and decorating a home for her.  The decor is artful and the females are properly appreciative.

Valentine Barbie Demure certainly appreciates Ken's gifts of flowers and candy but exactly what is Valentine's Day all about? 

Valentine Barbie Hot has a present for Ken too.

Bower bird nest

Valentine Barbie Demure

Valentine Barbie Demure

Valentine's Day is Big Business.  This year lovers are expected to spend $18.9 billion.  Isn't that romantic?  The most popular gifts are candy ($23.86), flowers ($41.55) and dinner out ($77.77) per person.  I can't even begin to guess how much schools spend on red construction paper and dollar store Cupids.

We can thank Geoffrey Chaucer for this mid-winter boost to the economy.  In1382 he wrote these immortal words. ( I have a university credit in Middle English as well as Old English.  I wasted a lot of time in university even when I was studying.)

For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.

Hearts have long been considered to be the center of love and lace is an echo of the dainty hankies young ladies gave brave knights as favours.  Red is the colour of blood and symbolizes the strength of love.   You have my permission to send this photo of Valentine Barbie to your true love and save yourself a ton of money.

Winterlude Gala Barbie

Winterlude Gala Barbie

I just made my class watch the movie "Groundhog Day".  It took a week and I'm sure they understood Bill Murray's frustration completely.

Punxsutawney Phil is not the only Prognosticator of prognosticators.  To name a few I found Balzac Billy in Alberta, Shubenacadie Sam in Nova Scotia, Brandon Bob in Manitoba and Wiarton Willie in Ontario.

The mid-winter festival has roots that are obscure but I found references to Candelmas Day, a Christian celebration derived from a Celtic custom.  I'd never heard of it.  People brought candles to church for a blessing and placed the candles in their windows; sympathetic magic to encourage the sun to shine more, I guess.

The custom came to North America with the Pennsylvania Dutch but it is the Scots who say
"If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there'll be two winters in the year."

Wiarton Willie appears in 1956 when Mac McKenzie, a guy Barbie would love, needed a reason to invite his friends over for a party.  The party now lasts a week and 20,000 people come.

Best of all, Ottawa's Winterlude begins this weekend. It features the world's best outdoor skating rink, Beavertails and the Ice Hog family. Barbie went to the opening gala.  Everyone loved her tan.