It is well known that fresh air and physical activity guarantee not only health, but also great mood. It is the middle of winter now and though the New Year holidays are over, a usual weekend can become a real holiday.
Many people will remember their childhood and say that winter means snowdrifts, slides, snow fortresses and usual endless outdoor games that always keep us warm. But it would be a mistake to think that they have become things of the past.
Last Saturday, on January 24, adults could get into real childhood and kids could enjoy spending time in the open air. The Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes together with students and teachers of the Vologda Regional Training School of Culture held the holiday “Winter Amusements” for the third time.
By tradition, the event was opened with a snow tube race in which children and youth took part. Probably, the high shore of Lake Borodaevskoye doesn’t seem to be a high ice-run at first sight, but it is a deceptive impression. The participants of the first race demonstrated all guests how far they could slide with the help of a snow tube.
Then everything mixed: some people enjoyed snow-tubing alone or in pairs, the others took part in amusements rides and games receiving sweet presents for it; some guests took pictures or joined in a relay when they had a chance to get prizes visiting several exhibitions of the Museum of Dionisy’s Frescoes. Those who participated in a lottery bought special tickets and could see the expositions absolutely free of charge.
A winter football match was also held during the holiday. Two teams of local boys competed in it. The game was keenly contested and interesting. “Cheerful Guys” claimed a 3-1 win and were awarded a cup. Their opponents were given a table game about the history of Russia.
The guests were really interested in the elements of historical reenactment: the ladies holding the leads with Russian hounds. It seemed they managed to jump over time to get to the modern holiday in the 21st century. One of the ladies told in detail about her incredibly elegant hounds. Participants of every tsar’s hunting couldn’t do without them.
Drawing of the lottery took place in the middle of the event. A young guest of “Winter Amusements” named Kirill was taking cards with numbers from a glass cylinder. Prizes were various. Besides, the winners of the snow-tube race and the most active young families annually coming to the holiday were awarded after the lottery.
Participants of the snow fortress storming were divided into two teams. One defended the structure and another one tried to capture its flag to show superiority over the opponent. Then the teams changed over and everything started up again – snowdrifts, snowballs, cheerful fighting and storming of the fortress.
The holiday “Winter Amusements” was concluded with a sand show titled “Snowy Enchanting Spectacle” that was presented in the Refectory. It attracted a capacity crowd. Cherepovets’ artist Vsevolod Vakhrameev kept the attention of the audience alive. People didn’t take their eyes off the master, who created intricate patterns and even whole pictures. These fragile and short-life images were familiar to everybody: several quick strokes and spectators could see the Ferapontov Monastery and the village of Ferapontovo on the screen. Then they disappeared under the sand and were replaced with a new beautiful picture. After the show, there was a queue of children and adults who wanted to try their hands at this kind of modern art. Vsevolod Vakhrameev prepared special tables where everybody could paint with sand listening to the artist’s instructions or creating their own master-pieces.
