Minnesotans and Winter – Bring It!!!

Living in Minnesota means that you must embrace the snow and cold if you want to survive.  For us, putting on layer after layer is just part of the struggle we go through to make the most out of the limited sunlight we have in the winters, and trust me we soak up as much daylight as we can.

So what do Minnesotans do in the winter?  Here is a list of some of the things Minnesotans brave during the cold and snowy months of winter.

Super Bowl 52

It’s no secret that we love our Vikings here in Minnesota and that we have one of the newest, nicest football stadiums in the world!  With that being said, it is my prediction that our Minnesota Vikings will be the first team to ever play a Super Bowl in their home stadium, and to top it off we are going to win.

Although the Super Bowl isn’t held in Minnesota every year (because most out of state fans can’t handle the cold) we do enjoy our tailgating.  No matter what the temperature is outside, you will find parking lots full of tailgaters before each and every home football game.

Ice Castles

Whether you are heading to Stillwater, St. Paul or one of many other locations throughout Minnesota to see ice castles, you will be in for a treat.  Ice castles are tradition and nobody does it better than Minnesota.  I mean just take a look at the pictures below and try not to drool…

The 1992 St. Paul Winter Carnival Ice Palace on Harriet Island in St. Paul. (Pioneer Press: Richard Marshall)

Polar Plunge

Some call us crazy for willingly jumping into ice cold lakes in the middle of winter but we call it charity!  That’s right, if you see a polar plunge going down you are more than likely witnessing a charity event like no other. 

Pond Hockey

We didn’t become that state of hockey without thousands of hours clearing the lakes and ponds behind our houses just so we can play some hockey!  We are self taught and produce some of the toughest hockey players in the nation because we brave the cold, or maybe because its so cold out we never feel the bumps and bruises from checking each other on the ice!  Either way, there are thousands of pond hockey games going on throughout the state each and every day there is ice on the lakes.

Additionally, Minnesota is home to the US Pond Hockey Tournament.  That’s right, Fred Haberman a tough and true Minnesotan had a dream and made it reality.  So, if you think you have a good hockey team it better be out there on the pond when tournament time rolls around.

Holidazzle

From movies in the park to watching the Vikings beat up the Packers to fireworks and so much more, us Minnesotans enjoy these activities outdoors, in the cold!  If you haven’t experienced Holidazzle in Minnesota than you really don’t know what being a Minnesotan is all about!