Poulenc for Lupercalia

This week we have Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Valentine's Day (Lupercalia) and Friday 15 February is Canadian Flag Day Proclamation (1965) so much celebration.

All ancient celebrations, Lupercalia is probably the oldest coming to us from Antiquity with a cosmetic change into Valentine's Day a few centuries ago by those Christian people. It is essentially a fertility rite. It is believed that it started with the founding of Rome in 753 BCE. It tells the story of Romulus and Remus being suckled by the She Wolf in a Cave below the Palatine Hill. It was announced in 2007 that the cave at been found and is located below the House of Emperor Augustus. It is under going restoration.

Mardi Gras is related to Lent and a Feast Day ending Carnivals celebrations. In Ottawa we had an excellent Winterlude this year, the weather was cold and the ice sculptures around Confederation Park where shining in the bright winter sunshine. Thousands of people skated on the 7.8 Km lenght of the Rideau Canal. At City Hall we had free figure skating shows by young skating champions accompanied by beautiful music. The City also re-used the Christmas trees it collects every year after the Holiday Season to create hedges of greenery which topped with fresh snow and coloured lights has a magical effect amongst the Ice sculptures in the park.

Winterlude old Canada treats

Ice Skating show at Ottawa City Hall

Skating on the UNESCO Rideau Canal

Ash Wednesday in the Christian Calendar 13 February 2013, not much mentioned nowadays in the age of ME First. I always liked it as a day of reflection. But then reflection nowadays is not much in fashion. We are 46 days prior to Easter and it is a time for Christians to reflect on life and death, life's choices and direction.

Friday is the birthday of the Canadian Flag (1965), 48 years ago the new red maple leaf was proclaimed on Parliament Hill by Queen Elizabeth II in the presence of the then Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1956) the Rt Hon. Lester B. Pearson. The original flag which flew that day from the Peace Tower of Parliament is now kept at the National Archives in Ottawa.

Finally why Poulenc for Lupercalia, well I wish to dedicate this piece of music to Will for Valentine's Day. Les Chemins de l'amour by Francis Poulenc, one of my favourite French music composer. Sung here by the great Yvonne Printemps.

Winterlude, Bal de Neige, Ottawa's Carnival

Today 1 February is the opening of the Winter Carnival in Ottawa which will last 2 weeks. Luckily this year the weather is going to be cold so the Canal will be splendid for skating all along the 7.8 Km. There is also the spectacular Ice Sculpting show at Confederation Park and the City is covered in coloured lights, very Fairy Land like.

Lots of parties and events and hot drinks served to warm the brave who walk, ski or skate. Not to forget, of course the famous Beaver Tails which goes with the Winter Carnival like Scotch and Water. Last Winter we went to see the Ice Sculpture and had Maple Syrup on Snow as a treat. The Maple Syrup is hot and drizzled on a patch of snow, you eat it with a stick. It is very good and every little kid loves it, there is no better treat.

The Ice Sculpture are imaginative and fun, at night lighted with coloured lights, it makes it all magical.

In other events last night I was invited by my old Alma Mater, Ottawa U. to speak on my career in the Foreign Service to a group of students at the Social Sciences Faculty. Some 250 students showed up, after my presentation I stayed an extra 90 minutes to answer multiple questions from the students. It was great fun. The Social Sciences Faculty has 34,000 students enrolled in its study program. I tried to explain to them the reality of working in the Foreign Service. I was able to make them laugh and they appeared interested. They certainly had lots of questions.

I am also going to Florida at the end of the month to see my brother and his wife in Clearwater. It will be a nice break from winter.

On Saturday 2 February the Carnavale di Roma starts there will be 135 events and the largest equestrian show in all of Europe. The parade starts at Piazza del Popolo and goes down Via del Corso.

see the website at: en.carnavale.roma.it

See the crowds in Piazza del Popolo in front of Santa Maria di Montesanto going down Via del Corso.