Whitefish Winter Carnival

From Whitefish Winter Carnival Website:

Once upon a time, there lived a god named Ullr who reigned over winter activities in the Nordic regions. Aiding him were his Prime Minister and Queen, who were skilled in creating the beauties of winter.

As time went by, however, his subjects become engrossed in exploring the world and its oceans, and they paid less homage to their god-king and the festivities of their winter season, so Ullr became a god all-but-forgotten, except in dim tradition.

After centuries of brooding and searching the world for a place to rest, ullr and his two remaining subjects came to the Flathead Valley. So struck were they by its beauty that they decided to settle there and selected the Big Mountain as their adopted home.

Their rest was short-lived as they soon found their home was also the abode of a fierce band of snowmen called Yetis, who attempted to kidnap their Queen. However, Ullr and his followers being more agile and resourceful, prevailed and learned to live with only occasional skirmishes with the Yetis.

Eventually, man invaded the valley with axes, guns and wagons. Ullr, his followers and the Yetis observed these men as they civilized the valley and were alarmed these men began to invade their homes.

Ullr found these men were not aware of his presence, and as he continued to observe these men, he found they not only enjoyed the sports of winter, but referred to Ullr himself as a patron saint of their small celebrations and revelries.

Seeing his chance after centuries of loneliness and self-banishment, Ullr assumed the garb of these men and went among them. The Yetis, however, would have nothing to do with these men except for attempts to drive them away.

Ullr aided the men in subduing the harassment of the yetis, became their true hero and King, and it was proclaimed that there would be an annual fete at which Ullr and his court would be given the full homage due them.