By: Marcia Abramson
For 10 days each year, starting on July 4-July 13, 2003, the Greatest Outdoor Show On Earth, or Calgary Stampede, takes place. I've been told that only two cities in North America shut down almost completely during their festivals. One is New Orleans during Mardi Gras - the other is Calgary during the renowned Stampede. Don't equate the stampede with an ordinary rodeo. The Stampede is more than just a rodeo. It is a tribute to the cowboy and the cowboy way of life. It got its start in 1912 and has thrived and grown over nine decades, but still retains its true western flavor. Each day during the 10-day celebration, the best cowboys in the world, using the best horses and bulls compete. Four hundred cowboys and cowgirls take part in six events, vying for a share of the almost million-dollar prize purse. Chuck wagon races, the modern-day Ben Hur chariot race, originated with the Calgary Stampede. The races are often referred to as the "Half Mile of Hell" and the Stampede's most famous event. Each heat has four wagons pulled by four horses and accompanied by four outriders. Visualize 32 horses and 16 cowboys navigating figure 8s in the infield and then pounding around the half-mile racetrack in less than two minutes. This is an awesome feat.You can also enjoy the colorful Indian Village that brings together five tribes of First Nations people. The visits into the Teepees, servings of authentic bannock (Indian bread), the native dances and games present an exciting portrait of the Plains Indians heritage. After the excitement of the rodeo events in the daylight hours, at nightfall there is a midway with rides for all ages and tolerance levels. There are free entertainment, agricultural exhibits and competitions and a circa 1912 western town.Free Stampede breakfasts of pancakes and sausages are available everyday throughout the city. Hotels, stores, banks and restaurants are decorated in western motif.For the 10 days just about everybody turns into a cowboy or cowgirl attired in jeans, cowboy boots and the ubiquitous white Stetson hat.I learned from Calgary historians that the cowboy hat is an enduring symbol of the old west. It evokes images of lonesome cowboys riding with a herd of cattle on the wide-open range. However, it is a necessity for the cowboy's survival and is vital to keep the sun off his head during the day. In the evening it is used to fan the campfire and keep it burning. It also serves as the vessel to hold water for the horse and rider and as a pillow to break the hardness of the ground when the cowboy turns in for the night.The original cowboy hat was called a Stetson in honor of John Stetson who designed the hat. He had gone to the American West to recuperate from a bout of tuberculosis. There, he fashioned fur felt into a hat with a wide brim and a high crown as protection from the elements of the sun, wind and rain. Upon regaining his health, he went into the hat manufacturing business and so the Stetson, the hat of the West, was born.On the rare occasions when President George W. Bush is seen wearing a hat, he reverts to his beloved Texas ranch tradition and dons a white Stetson. American Indian fighter Custer is said to have worn a Stetson at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Buffalo Bill Cody embraced the hat in his Wild West shows as did movie cowboy stars Hoot Gibson, Tom Mix, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Lorne Green.White hats have become the symbol of Calgary hospitality. Over the years thousands of visitors, including celebrities like Bill Cosby, have received these hats during a typical swearing-in ceremony and a requisite "yahoo" can make a tourist into an honorary citizen of Calgary.The White Hat Ceremony is free (not the hat, bring your own) and can be arranged by calling Tourism Calgary toll free at 1-800-661-1678 when you visit.
© Copyright by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
