The Art of Advent: Day Four

By Valerie Kniazeva

During the holiday season, the cold tends to follow us around, Scotland being no exception. One aspect that comes with the cold: snow and ice! Whilst not your usual artistic medium, one only has to look at the snowman to see how colder countries have utilized their weather for artistic creation. Another equally chilling medium, creations out of these cold wonders can equally be done with ice.

Edinburgh's Christmas Market Ice Adventure 2022

Coming from Canada, we are used to quite low temperatures, and after the holiday season in February we have a large annual festival called Winterlude, which includes an ice carving competition. Each province is represented by a pair who have twenty hours and fifteen blocks of ice to create a sculpture suiting the year’s theme. Attracting many visitors every year, sculptors work outdoors in public throughout Ottawa, allowing everyone to see their process and hard work come to life right before their eyes.

Canada's Winterlude Festival 2019

Ice sculptures are a unique and magical experience that everyone should witness, and with so many opportunities to do so around the world there are many options to choose from! Enjoy a little chilly weather with some icy art that only survives during this special time of the year.