It may be time for Super Bowl XLI here in the USA, but in China it's Ice Festival time. Meteorologist Bill Steffen blogged a photo of this amazing festival from 2005.

Closer to home, for our neighbors to the north the focus is on Bonhomme and Carnaval de Quebec or the Quebec Winter Carnival. Here's a bit of its history from the official website

Since the beginning of our French colony, the habitants of New France formed a rowdy tradition of getting together just before Lent to eat, drink and be merry. Already at this era, this intense period of revelry was designated as the Carnival - a word of Italian origin that signifies Mardi Gras. The tradition of celebrating at the end of January until mid-February is a custom long in progress.

The first large winter Carnival in Quebec, the world's snow capital, took place in 1894.

...The first official edition of the Quebec Winter Carnival took place in 1955. The Carnival snowballed into an undeniable manifestation for the entire Quebec population, and was an important vehicle for tourist and economical activity in the city.

And, here in Michigan, we celebrate the Ice and Snow with our own festivals. Here a just a few you may want to check out:

Third Annual Hunter Ice Festival in Niles
Visit Zehnder's Ice Fest in Frankenmuth
Visit Tip Up Town USA in Houghton Lake
Trap Attack Ice Fishing Festival in Brooklyn
Visit Frost Bite Open a golf tournament in Harrison


Read Harbin China Ice and Snow Festival by Bill's Blog
Read more about the Harbin Ice Festival at TravelChinaGuide.com
Visit the official website for Carnaval de Quebec

The photo is from the Absolute Michigan Pool on Flickr
Check out Darrin's Traverse City, Michigan set for more frozen photos