When we see a snowy winter wonderland there are many things we want to do right away. Of course, we need to shovel the sidewalk but we also want t...
When we see a snowy winter wonderland there are many things we want to do right away. Of course, we need to shovel the sidewalk but we also want t...
When we see a snowy winter wonderland there are many things we want to do right away. Of course, we need to shovel the sidewalk but we also want to make a snow angel, have a snowball fight, or our favorite, build a snowman! Snowmen are a popular theme for Christmas and winter decorations and also in children's media. Many of us enjoyed showing Frosty the Snowman to our children around the Holidays. So when was the first snowman? What is the history? Are snowmen the same around the world? We had to find out as we head into this holiday season.
The first proof documented snowman was in 1380. However, we can take a pretty good guess that for as long as there has been snow, people have enjoyed playing with it and quite possibly making art out of it.
In the book, The History of the Snowman, Bob Eckstein shares his research on “one of humanity’s earliest forms of folk art during several years of research around the world”. There are a few fun facts we learned in his book:
We know our version, let’s call it the classic? In many places, typical snowmen consist of three large snowballs of different sizes with some additional accoutrements for facial and other features. But, there is also a wide variety of other styles. Common accessories include branches for arms and a rudimentary smiley face, with a carrot used for a nose. Clothing, such as a hat or scarf, may be included.
In Japan, snowmen are made with two balls, one big and one small atop it, and without arms. They are to resemble the daruma doll, which brings good luck. Korea also makes their snowmen with only two balls.
Japanese snowman (above)
Korean snowmen (above)
In China, going back to the 7th-century, Buddha statues are carved out of snow for families to worship in place of marble or wood.
Chinese snowman (above)
According to wikipedia, The record for the world's largest snowman was set in 2008 in Bethel, Maine. The snow-woman stood 122 feet 1 inch (37.21 m) in height, and was named in honor of Olympia Snowe, a U.S. Senator representing the state of Maine.
World's Tallest Snowman, Bethel Maine (above)