By Cindy Carvelli-Yu
One of the traditions in my family has been the celebration of St. Nicholas's Day on Dec. 6. We would all put our shoes inside the front door that day in anticipation of a visit from St. Nicholas. He would stop by while we were asleep, and if we had been good that year, he would fill our shoes with treats, usually popcorn balls and chocolates. I had the biggest feet, which meant I got the most treats.
This St. Nicholas's Day tradition brings a smile to my face every time I think of it, and I look forward to passing it on to future generations of Carvellis.
The way I feel about putting out my shoes on St. Nicholas's Day is the same way tens of thousands of Minnesotans — including myself — feel about attending the St. Paul Winter Carnival. The Winter Carnival will celebrate its 120th anniversary in 2006, and a lot of people wouldn't miss it for the world.
Since 1885, families have been coming to the Winter Carnival for wholesome fun. They've been drawn to the ice palaces, parades and other festivities that make the carnival what we call "the coolest celebration on earth." And they have come knowing that no matter what their age, they will very likely leave with some fond memories.
Volunteers have also been drawn to the event year after year. They often come to us, which is a real testament to their deep connection to the Winter Carnival. This year, we had 1,200 volunteers who contributed nearly 10,000 hours of time. (We welcome you to check out our Web site at http://www.winter-carnival.com/ if you would like volunteer information for the 2006 festival.)
What are my expectations for the 2006 carnival? I believe I speak on behalf of the board and our new president and CEO, Kate Kelly, when I say they are high. We are excited about the future, and we see our challenges as opportunities for improvement. Kate's enthusiasm for St. Paul and the carnival are contagious.
This is just the kind of new energy we need to complement the long heritage we're charged with preserving — a heritage that gets "kids" of all ages involved. Getting kids excited about winter and tradition are at the core of the carnival's mission.
The Vulcans, an organization that has donated its time to the carnival throughout our history, has had an important role in inspiring this involvement and excitement. The Vulcans have delighted children at countless appearances they've made year-round at community-based events.
But the misconduct incident this year involving a small number of Vulcan members has harmed the reputation of the entire 270-member organization as well as the Winter Carnival. Although the Vulcans are a separate organization from the Winter Carnival, and the incident did not happen at a carnival-sanctioned event, the carnival has no tolerance for the type of misbehavior reported this year. We have addressed this issue proactively and seriously. We have created firm restrictions for the future participation of the Vulcans in the Winter Carnival, and we will continue to work with the entire royal family to ensure we achieve our mission.
The Vulcans must win back the public's trust. And because of our longtime association with the Vulcans, the Winter Carnival must also assure the public that we remain a family event with the highest level of integrity.
We at the Winter Carnival think of ourselves as the keepers of a tradition that has been passed down from one generation to the next, a tradition we have because of all the wonderful people who join us from year to year. We hope that people will not allow one incident to change their minds about this great festival.
We look forward to seeing both new and familiar faces at the 2006 St. Paul Winter Carnival. It's up to all of us to preserve and pass on this legend of Minnesota heritage to the next generation.
Carvelli-Yu is chair of the board of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, which operates the Winter Carnival.
Copyright 2005 Pioneer Press.
