Brian Head, UT – Brian Head skiers and riders will be tossing their gear into a giant bonfire tonight in hopes for a snowy winter ahead.nBrian Head’s annual Ullr Burn will take place at 6 p.m. tonight in front of the southern Utah resort town’s fire station. The event is a fun ritual sacrifice to the Norse god of snow in hopes that he will bring a bounty of snow to Brian Head’s slopes this winter. Many other ski resorts hold similar celebrations to commemorate and recognize Ullr throughout the ski season.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Attendees are invited to bring old ski or snowboard equipment, gear, mate-less gloves, etc. to be burned in a big metal drum as sacrifice to Ullr.

For more than 25 years, Brian Head residents Bob Goldhirsch and Tim Deutschlander have organized the Ullr Burn. Although the mythical Viking god of snow, Goldhirsch likes to believe that he’s the god of après ski as well. The annual date is never set in stone but usually takes place a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving which, pending snow, is usually the opening weekend of the ski and snowboard season at Brian Head Resort. According to Goldhirsch, who has been grooming the slopes of Brian Head Resort in a snowcat for the past 20 years, “There is no set time. When it feels right, we do it. Our purpose is to appease Ullr to give us a good winter season.”

In addition to the big bonfire, the celebration also includes fireworks and a toast with the aptly named Ullr peppermint schnapps.