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“Come to the Carnival at Old St. Paul”: Souvenirs from a Civic Ritual Interpreted

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 July 2009

Jean Spraker
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Extract

The lines above constitute the chorus of a jaunty one-step which, its publishers hoped, would lure visitors to the St. Paul Winter Carnival of 1917. This civic celebration, first held in Minnesota's capitol city for the first twelve days of February, 1886, is still held and continues to incorporate a round of activities including parades, oratory, winter sports, mock royalty, balls and constructions of ice sculptures. Since the Carnival's inception, a variety of materials—running the gamut from promotional sheet music, programs, postcards and buttons to relics from previous carnivals—have been issued and collected to boost and commemorate the city of the Winter Carnival.

Type
Souvenirs
Information
Prospects , Volume 11 , October 1986 , pp. 232 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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References

NOTES

1. Landman, Norman H. and Wessel, Harry, lyrics and music, “Come to the Carnival at Old St. Paul” (St. Paul, MN: Landman and Wessel Music Publishers, 1916).Google Scholar

2. St. Paul Winter Carnival Association, 1886–1961, 75th Anniversary Saint Paul Winter Carnival Souvenir Booklet (St. Paul, MN: St. Paul Winter Carnival Assoc, 1961), p. 1.Google Scholar

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17. St. Paul Dispatch Carnival Edition, 01 16, 1887, p. 5.Google Scholar

18. Indians and western-style stage (St. Paul, MN: C. A. Zimmermand and Ingersoll photographic firm, c. 1890), photograph from the collection of the Minnesota Historical Society.

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28. Commemorative Program: St. Paul Winter Carnival, January 26—February 5,1984, Supplement to St. Paul Sunday Pioneer Press, 01 22, 1984, p. 3J.Google Scholar In 1986, in honor of the Carnival, a very large ice palace was the center of attention, but this clearly was a one-time event!

29. St. Paul Radio Station WCCO, flyer, 1984.Google Scholar