Skiri - Snow Melodies

​

by Massimiliano Spera

​

A long, long time ago, there was a squirrel named Cembrolo who played the cello. He brought his music to squirrel communities around the world, and often people would stop to listen to his magical melodies echoing through the forests and plains. His instrument was made from wood from a magical forest in Val di Fiemme called the “Forest of Violins,” where he was born and where he returned during his summer vacations.
Every time he returned to his forest, Cembrolo felt the need to play his music, and as if by magic, the trees echoed his notes beyond the boundaries of the forest, while the entire squirrel community gathered around him to be part of that moment of wonder. His notes had a magical power, they made everyone feel at peace and in harmony.

 

For this very reason, in addition to squirrels, all the other animals, bears, wolves, moles, and birds, as well as deer and stags, would gather to listen to his music, and the secret of that melody was even more astonishing: Cembrolo had learned to play by reading the snow, yes, you heard right! As a child, he began to read the falling snowflakes as if they were notes on a musical staff. He memorized the ever-changing music and then shared it with the world.

 

After many years of traveling, Cembrolo decided to stay in his forest, to write even more music during the winter, and to build his special cellos. Still in the forest, he met Aloisia, daughter of the forest luthier and also a woodworker and instrument maker. After a few years, their love produced Skiri, a squirrel with a heart of gold and a passion for places where he could run happily. When he grew a little older, always ready to help others, he began to lend a hand in gathering nuts, and thanks to his strength and agility, the reserves for winter became even more substantial, bringing a sense of tranquility to the whole community.

 

Life went on peacefully, and the euphoria of summer gave way to the tranquility of winter, partly because the snow made it impossible to go out, simply giving us time to spend with our families, study (write music), and read books. One winter, however, something extraordinary happened, something that would change the Val di Fiemme forever. During a particularly cold and stormy winter, the tree where the peanut supplies were stored was struck by lightning, catching fire and burning all the peanuts to ashes. The community did not know what to do. Supplies were low, and the little ones needed to eat to get through the winter. Skiri kept thinking and rethinking a solution, but the nearest collection point was too far away, and no one would reach it in time with all that snow.

 

While he was deep in thought, he accidentally knocked over the table in front of the house, where his father had placed one of the cellos he was building with his mother. The cello slid onto the snow and, to Skiri's amazement, continued to slide until he had to go and retrieve it several meters beyond the fence of his house. At that point, Skiri had an idea, and he shut himself in the house to practice over and over again for two whole days. When he came out of his room, he had two spruce boards at his feet and ran (a little clumsily) out into the snow, began to slide downhill, and within a few hours, after a few falls and a few adjustments, our friend was ready to tackle the long journey to the harvesting tree.

 

When they saw him leave, still limping a little on those two planks he had on his feet, they weren't very confident that he would return. In fact, after two days, there was still no news, and supplies were practically gone. But just when everyone started thinking about leaving the village, Skiri appeared with a huge sack of peanuts. In the days that followed, he taught other friends how to use what he called “skis” because they flew over the snow (and it really felt like flying), and together with them he went to fetch more supplies. Even more so, the snow became the bond that united the music of Papa Cembrolo and his beloved Skiri.

 

Thanks to Skiri's invention, it became possible to travel even during winter, and as if by magic, he also gave rise to a new sport called cross-country skiing. Since then, Skiri has been known throughout the world as the mascot of the world's most famous cross-country skiing event for children. An event that bears his name, in memory of the feat that saved the entire squirrel community of the Val di Fiemme and marked the beginning of the history of cross-country skiing.