Ullr, pronounced as “ool-er”, is the Norse God of skiing and snow. It is celebrated to commemorate the start of the winters. Norwegians have a tradition of worshiping Ullr God at the commencement of winters. The celebration of this festival started in the Poconos after the foundation of Breckenridge Ski Resort whose founders were Norwegian in origin.
People from across the USA come and take part in the celebration. Poconos’ Camelback Mountain is one such spot where this fest is celebrated with full enthusiasm. They pray to Norse God for his blessings and toast to the first snow with food, beverages, wood carvings and various snow sports. Let’s dive deep into this fest further in this blog.
Why Camelback Mountain Started Celebrating Winter?
Ullr Fest is a tribute to the God which powders the mountains white during the winter. To commemorate this, people living in Poconos started celebrating Ullr on the day of the first snow in the winter with the foundation of the resort.
Camelback Ullr fest started back in 1963 to pay homage to snow God, Ullr with only 15 people participating in the fest. It got better with each passing year with addition of new activities and continuation of older traditions during the celebration. This year, the 61st annual Breck Ullr Fest will be celebrated in Poconos. It brings together all the tourists and locals of the region. Many snow sports are played during the fest, adding up the level of fun and resonating joy along the all age verticals of people. So, grab your Viking hats and hit the destination.
How is Ullr Fest in Camelback Celebrated?
It’s a one day festival filled with all the fun activities, great food and beverages, fireworks, ski decorations and many more. The enthusiasm of the crowd can be seen even from afar with everyone donning the Viking hat and all excited for the fest to begin. It starts with the crowning of the King and Queen of the fest among the local community.
It is followed by the Shotski event. People attach the shot glasses to their ski using the Velcro and pour the alcohol in the glasses. The skis are attached from one end to the other end of the ski. With the blow of signal, everyone together lifts up the ski and goes for bottoms up!
The Shotski event is followed by the parades showcasing different themes like Star wars, River rats and pirates, Clark and cousin Eddie and many more. Prizes are awarded to the best float for the top 3 positions.
That’s not all! Fest is considered incomplete without the Ullr Ice Plunge. People hop into the semi frozen Maggie pond to prove their endurance. The excitement and the cold mixed together gives the ultimate thrill to anyone participating in it.
The culmination of the festival is done with the bonfire which is considered the ultimate homage to Ullr, the Norse God. The party continues with the DJ playing music in the background and burning of branches of alpine trees to celebrate the winter’s commemoration. Some other activities like comedy nights, ice skating party, ice skating show, snow sculpting, Ullr ball and the Ullr dating games have been included in the fest from time to time to make it more fun and lively.
What’s the Attire and Gear for the Fest?
People participating in the fest dress up in the Viking hat along with the dress and rock the fest like no other. The dress comprises a long coat covered with fur and a Viking hat which is wrapped around with leather and earflaps.
The horns on either side of the helmet are adorned with fur balls on the tip, giving the feel of a Viking hat. The fur used can be man made or derived from some of the old original Viking’s costumes which were adorned with different types of fur like rabbit, mink, lamb etc.
What are The Ullr Fest 2024 Dates?
Previously, the Ullr Fest celebrations used to be held in January. Now, the month has been shifted from January to December. The Ullr fest 2022 dates were December 8-10, 2022. On a very similar line, in 2023 it was celebrated on December 7-9, 2023. All the locals and visitors in the area can participate in paying homage to the Ullr, God of Snow in the upcoming 2024 fest.
Where to Stay to Attend the Fest?
The annual fest in honor of Ullr, the ski God, is a great way to keep traditions alive while enjoying and interacting with new people.
One can attend the festival while vacationing in Poconos. Poconos is a getaway destination full of serene mountains, pristine rivers and stunning beaches. Camelback Mountain is a part of Poconos and is the place where one can enjoy and participate in the fest to commemorate the start of winters.
Conclusion
If you are one of those enthusiasts who love to explore new places and experience new traditions, then grab your backpacks and put Camelback Mountain as your destination. Don’t worry about finding a good place to stay. We at HolidayKeepers provide an array of luxurious vacation rentals in Poconos starting from lavish mansions, villas to cozy condos.
So, what are you thinking? Put on those Viking hats and blend in with the crowd while enjoying the fest this coming December. Contact us for any queries.
