BOREAS VULCANUS

Much of the legend of the modern St. Paul Winter Carnival was written by a newspaper columnist.

In 1937, a group of St. Paul boosters decided to defy the Great Depression and revive the Winter Carnival after a 15-year absence. Frank Madden, a St. Paul Dispatch columnist, took to his typewriter and, with mock Homeric embellishment, created "The Rollicking Realm of Boreas."

Madden's purpose, in large part, was to create a carnival pageant with lots of participants. Each of Boreas' four brothers, for example, represented St. Paul neighborhoods. Titan was the North Wind. Notos came from the South. Euros was from the East, and Zephyrus from the West.

MADDEN'S LEGEND

A long, long time ago, Astraios, the god of Starlight, and Eos, the goddess of the Rosy Fingered Moon, were wed. The union was blessed with five sons: Boreas, Titan, Euros, Zephyrus and Notos.

As the eldest, Boreas was granted the title of "King of the Winds." As King of the Winds, Boreas assigned to each of his brothers a permanent grant of great force and power. To Titan was assigned the blustery North Wind. To Euros was granted control of the irresponsible East Wind. To Zephyrus was given custody of the bountiful West Wind. To Notos was presented the balmy but unstable South Wind. The brothers cavorted gaily over land and sea.

Boreas, while on his extensive travels, came upon a winter paradise known as Minnesota. He paused to behold the enchanting beauty of a magnificent group of seven gently sloping hills in whose embrace nestled a beautiful city. Boreas whistled in sheer ecstasy: "Historic St. Paul and her seven hills! An ideal place. I will make St. Paul the capital of all my domains. It will henceforth be emblazoned to the world as the winter playground of the Realm of Boreas."

Meanwhile, Vulcanus Rex, the god of Fire and the implacable enemy of Boreas, crackled in defiant disdain. "By the great sword of Mars, I will temper the blusterings of Boreas with the heat and roar of my forces." He was tireless in his bitter resistance to all the festivities of Boreas.

Undaunted, Boreas proclaimed a celebration in the spirit of gay carnival. "So be it!" shouted Boreas. "There will be a carnival in old St. Paul!" Boreas selected a Prime Minister to coordinate preparations in all the principalities, provinces and royal houses within the realm of St. Paul.

And so, for 10 glorious days, there was a carnival and joyous celebration in St. Paul — feasting, dancing, fun and frolic reigned over by Boreas and the Queen of Snows, the fairest maiden of the realm, along with the four Winds, who were each accompanied by a lovely princess from the realm of Boreas.

Klondike Kate, a lady of song and merriment, added her sassy but enchanting voice to the festivities by singing songs of desire and sentiment. On the 10th day of celebration, Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe stormed the magnificent Ice Castle and confronted the King's Guard.

Upon the good counsel of the queen, Boreas bade farewell to the people of his winter capital. In the interest of peace and goodwill, he returned to dwell among the gods of Olympus. Boreas and his court looked forward to the time when summer's warmth would once again relinquish its hold on the realm and the frosty atmosphere of winter would prevail.

Copyright 2006 Pioneer Press.