It’s almost time for Rendezvous in Whitehorse. The Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous is a mid-winter festival that gets people out of their cabins (thus avoiding cabin fever) in the middle of winter. There are different events: the Queen competition, tub races, flour packing, beard contest for men and women, hairy legs contest for men and women. (What can I say? We are pretty real in the Yukon.) There are Can Can Girls. There are Can Can Guys (I can’t find a picture of these fellows–which may be a good thing.) There is also, from what I remember, a group that does the Snowshoe Can Can. There is also music–lots of music (mainly because Rendezvous follows the Frostbite Festival). All in all, it’s pretty entertaining.
Every year, there is a Rendezvous parade. I was sorting though some pictures the other day and I found a picture of me as a majorette in this parade. Now, what do you think of when you think of a majorette? Batons. Yes. Twirling skills. Yes. Choreography. Yes Synchronized moves. Yes. But, what are they wearing? Usually, they are wearing body suits and wee skirts, no? Isn’t that what you think of when you think of a majorette?
Well. In Whitehorse, Yukon, in the middle of winter for a parade that takes place in the middle of winter, the majorettes are wearing many, many layers of clothing, winter boots, and if you can believe it–mittens! Yes. Mittens. Now–that takes skill.