I have a valuable lesson to share. Ice is “see through”! I expect you thought that was “transparently” obvious, didn’t you? I simply found it quite difficult to obtain effective photographs of ice sculptures, out in the street. Excuses over, I did thoroughly enjoy myself trying, at York’s Festival of Angels.
An innocent bystander peeps through the angel wings
The city of York was as festive as anywhere I’ve ever been at Christmas time, and the Festival of Angels added its own charming dimension. Local businesses sponsor the ice sculptures, most of which are traditional Christmas images of angels and snowflakes. The large handsome slug produced an exclamation or two, however. The sponsor? A certain restaurant chain that accompanies its food with “green stuff”.
A slippery slug!
Mr. Slug illustrates the fact that I should have waited a while to let the frosting on the ice sculptures melt a little. I’ll know better next time but I was keen to see them all before too big a crowd gathered.
A rather frosty angel
Rudolph was almost defrosted
And the penguin was halfway there!
But the angel won, hands down, quite rightly
The crowd were mostly in good spirits as they wove in and out of the narrow streets. The presence of an “Ice Bar”, selling delectables such as Baileys in a frozen chocolate cup, undoubtedly helped. Mulled wine flowed sweetly too. And there was always Earl Grey in the tea shop.
It speaks for itself
Naturally Santa was there
And an Ice King, who must have had chilly nether regions
Even the barrel organ was feeling festive
Never tell me the British don’t have a sense of humour
York’s a good looking city, and there’s always something to see. I was also checking out Vintage shops, and in passing couldn’t resist a few more shots.
A former cinema, turned furniture store!
The Merchants Hall is quite special
St. Martin’s Church makes a lovely backdrop
I would have liked a few more ice sculpture photographs, but they do say “life is for learning”, don’t they?
Ice Christmas trees?
An ice Charter of York
An ice polar bear
And finally, a snowflake
My apologies for not doing full justice to the amount of work that must have gone into these incredible pieces of artwork. I hope you managed to gain just a flavour of the event, and my thanks to York for being gracious hostess to the Festival of Angels.
Lovely and how festive! We have a big ice sculpture show in February but I love the idea of having one around the holidays.
It takes place in the most historic part of York, and you have chestnut sellers, carollers, and generates a lovely atmosphere, despite all the shopping.
Sounds absolutely wonderful Jo!
I think your photographs are excellent
I’ve never tried photographing ice sculptures, but can imagine its quite difficult, especially amongst streets ful of people.
And thank you for a tour around one of my favourite cities.
Thanks, Vicky. I’ll know better another time, but it really was quite hard to do them justice. I need more patience!
Lovely! Particularly like the angels wings at the top.
That’s my favourite shot too. There was a stunning angel but she wasn’t “defrosted” enough to show all the detail, sadly. Many thanks.
So impressive!
:X
Thank you! I wasn’t sure what to expect but they were lovely.
Indeed! I like it so much!
Great shots of the Ice Scultures! – Very Wintery Shot!!
Thank you! Your stuff looks pretty cool too, Stephen.
How lovely Jo – my favourites are the angel at the top and the snowflake, so pretty.
Thanks, Suze. I need to start getting a bit more technical with my photography and taking time, but the atmosphere was lovely. Should be able to bottle it!
You did a wonderful job photographing the ice sculptures. I find it hard to do.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thanks, Francine. I did enjoy trying, but was a bit disappointed with the results. Beautiful place though.
Great way to slip into a festive mood, Jo. Thank you for a delightful viewing – especially since it comes to me while my fire crackles and throws heat in my cosy wee home.
It was the mildest day we’ve had for ages, which made the viewing rather more pleasant.
Beautiful JO!!!
Glad to bring a little joy, Len.
amazing
I have NO idea how they can do this! I can just about make Christmas tree shaped ice cubes.
A fun fair rather than an ice-mare. I loved the little kneeling angel the best. Ooooh, Baileys in chocolate, YUM!
Yes, it was, Viv, but the title appealed to the drama queen in me. I was severely tempted!
These pictures are fantastic, Jo! I love the Ice Angel
Adorable, isn’t she? Glad you liked them, Dianne.
Would look good in a gin and tonic!
Indeed! I’m more of a vodka person, but each to his own.
What a lovely festival. Your photos are a visual treat.
Thanks, Suzanne. So many nice Christmas festivals about this year!
fantastic jo, it seems miraculous to me …. living in a non-frozen place … thanks for showing us all these gorgeous sculptures
Oh to live in a non-frozen place, Christine! But you’re right- they are amazing.
Like all the others who have commented, I found this post very enjoyable! I have never seen ice statues, they must be quite exquisite.
Even though you were a bit disappointed with the photos, you have brought a lot of pleasure to your readers, and you got to enjoy the atmosphere on the day. Next year, perhaps you will be able to get the sculptures at a different time. In the meantime, I really liked them all!
I’m glad you liked them, Madoqua. York is a lovely city, and choc full of atmosphere, especially at Christmas.
Lovely sculptures. I love the second angel and the snowflake. Pity they probably don´t last that long…
Wonderfully seasonal, aren’t they, Sami? I know- so much effort for a day’s pleasure! There was a lot of fundraising for charity going on too, and I think that’s the point.
Love all those sculptures and York is such a beautiful city!
It is, Chica. The river was still dangerously high. It must be heartbreaking to live beside it.
You did a great job with with these pictures Jo, I love those wings!
Thanks, Marcia. Sending a little Christmas cheer your way!
Very festive! I love the snowflake
I try to experience a different Christmas festival each year, and it was York’s turn this year. Thanks, Kate.
How wonderful. I love the photos of the kids touching them. How can you not resist. The one of the church in the background is a beautiful scene. Ice sculptors we do not have in Florida, but we have sand sculptor competitions each year which draw contestants from around the world. Love the angel.
Hi Lynne. I do appreciate you taking the time to comment, hon. Yeah, the young uns were great.
I’m very versatile (smile), I love sand sculptures too!
I think your photos are pretty spectacular Jo, and as I sit here in 35 degree heat sipping a cooling cider, they were the perfect images for me to enjoy!
Ice sculptures are very intricate and seeing them makes you appreciate all the work that’s gone into making them – phew!
Thanks for the tour round a beautiful city.
Got another lovely traditional post coming up next, Barb. So many beautiful things to see this year, alongside such sadness.
Jo, I LOVE reading and seeing Holiday posts and photos! Yours is no exception! Since the December is my favorite time of the year, it’s always a good thing to see how everyone else from around the world celebrates the Holidays!
I get a little depressive sometimes, Antoinette, but it’s nice to be reminded of all the beauty and good things out there. Have a great Christmas.
It’s a pity that the festival wasn’t held last week Jo. That really cold morning would have been just perfect and the fog would have added some real winter atmosphere. The sculptures might have lasted all day as well. Great post.
With my skills, I probably wouldn’t have found the ice sculptures in the fog, David. Next year I’m sending you! Thanks, m’dear. Merry Christmas!
Love them all.The angel caught my attention too. Somehow it reminded me of the little angels we lost recently in Connecticut and else where in other parts of the world who all are now in heaven. Beautiful post. Merry CHristmas and wishing you and your family all life’s blessings.
Thanks, Mr. B. Not so easy to spread Christmas cheer this year. Thank you for following me and hope next year is beautiful for you.
Excellent photos, Jo! Ice sculptures are mesmerizing! If you haven’t yet, the ice sculpture festival in Hokkaido Japan have TITANTIC ones the size of BUILDINGS!
That sounds amazing, Zoe. It’s my dream (ice-mare???) to visit Japan.
The creativity and attention to detail astounds me . . . How marvelous it must have been to see each of these beauties in person! I will have to see if I can arrange a similar experience for myself and The Hubs. Nice to meet you!
~ Cara
Thanks for returning my visit, Cara. Have a wonderful Christmas!
My pleasure! I see we share a friend in Michael, AKA Blissful Adventurer. So lovely to find new friends.
And a merry, wonderful Christmas to you as well!
~ Cara
The sculptures are fabulous. What a lovely day out.
I visited York on a school trip and I have always wanted to go back. I loved it, apart from the bit where the ice cream lady burped over my ice cream so I gave it away.
What a fond memory??? Thanks, Tilly.
I thought your photos were quite beautiful, actually. My favorite sculpture would have to be the angel as well.. she was stunning, wasn’t she? I watched ice sculpting once, it’s really quite a difficult art, it’s amazing really when you watch them work at chipping ice! Merry Christmas.. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!! xxxx
Thanks, Smidge. I’m right there with the Blissful Adventurer in thinking that you have one of the best blogs ever. Blessings, my dear.
Those sculptures are amazing, and you remind me of how much I want to visit York. I can’t believe I still haven’t been, and now I know about the Earl Grey tearooms I have a quite desperate desire to get myself down to Yorkshire post haste. Smashing post!
Oh the tearooms I can recommend if you do head in that direction. Sumptuous! Thanks, Lorna.
Beautiful ice sculptures! I’m so glad you got these pictures to share. It does look cold!
It wasn’t too bad, Meg, and there were plenty of “warming” drinks about. It’s currently bouncing with rain, and that would have been a disaster!
What a lovely post. My favorite among those ice sculptures are angels! I am glad that You presented ice carvings.
Thank you! They were lovely, and the amazement on the children’s faces was wonderful to see.
nice………
Thank you, sir!
Wow
Stunning post and I absolutely adore that snowflake sculpture!
Many thanks, Jodi. It was wonderfully Christmassy.
It’s incredible how they make this, compliments for the artists !
Wonderful, aren’t they! Many thanks for your visit.
I really find your post interesting ! Have a lovely evening !
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Jo, incredible what the artists were able to achieve with ice! They remind me of some sand sculptures that we saw in the Canary Islands several years ago. Lovely!
I have no idea how it’s possible, Tricia! I love sand sculptures too, but they are easier to conceive and a little more lasting. At FIESA in the Algarve they have an event every year which lasts from May till October.
Great post Jo – I really liked scrolling down to see more and more sculptured ice creations …. I’m stumped as to how they do it ..*giggle*@chilly nethers
Thank you! I like my photos in that format, then I can “tell a story” as I go along. Some people prefer the Gallery option, though.
Definitely cool round the nethers!
Love the ice sculptures…I think you did them justice just fine! Looks like a fun festival.
The atmosphere was lovely, Anita, and not just because of the mulled wine! Thanks for stopping by.
The ice carvings are beautiful. Thank you for sharing them! Did you know that when they make ice for carving, they actually pump air through it as it freezes so it remains transparent. The only bit that is frosted over is when they take the pipe out at the end when it is all nearly frozen. If you just froze a box of ice it would not be that beautiful.
No, I didn’t! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and for your visit.