Who says winter can’t be fun?

Braving Chicago’s winter blitz, the most stalwart Maroons will journey to Promontory Point on Lake Michigan’s shore to salute the rising sun as part of Kuviasungnerk, the University’s annual winter festival.

Festival activities begin with predawn calisthenics on Monday, Jan. 18, and continue through Friday, Jan. 22.

The ascetic calisthenics are based on the samurai concept kangeiko, meaning “winter training,” said Don Levine, Professor in Sociology, who introduced kangeiko as part of Kuviasungnerk. Each morning, participants will meet in the Henry Crown Field House for the workout—except Wednesday, Jan. 20, when exercising will begin with a march from Woodward Court to the Point, culminating in the annual yogic stretch to the golden orb known as Suryanamaskar. The sun has appeared only three times in 16 years during kangeiko.

The winter festival was created in 1983 when Levine, Dean of the College at that time, wanted “to freshen up the winter scene and make students smile.” Kuviasungnerk, an Eskimo word meaning “happy times,” appropriately became the festival’s official title.

Kuviasungnerk creates many memories on the snow-covered quads—from scarf-knitting contests to munching on Eskimo cuisine. This year’s festival boasts a number of fun-filled activities in addition to kangeiko, including evening ice skating and broom ball games on the Midway, a polar bear run in boxer shorts and an outdoor picnic.

Times and dates for the events were being established as of press time; a complete schedule of activities will be posted in Reynolds Club. For more information, contact the Council on University Programming at (773) 702-0433.