Bob Eckstein, the author of The History of the Snowman, found evidence of snowmen in the 12th century. Snowmen were very popular in the Middle Ages and Michelangelo was once commissioned to sculpt a snowman. Snowmen have also played a role in both religious and political history. From festivals of old that sought to bring entertainment to the cold of winter to their modern day equivalents, people continue to be intrigued by snowmen.
We are more than likely fascinated by snowpeople because they are, well, like people. Humans like to create effigies. Wikipedia describes snowmen as anthropomorphic. We not only like to build them, we also like to think of them as having human qualities. Throughout the centuries, building a snowman has been a way to create something that celebrates creativity and cold, snowy winters.
I can remember building snowmen as a child and I can remember building snowmen with my daughter. It was lots of fun. These days I usually restrict myself to building miniature snowmen. It’s still lots of fun, and it still gives me the opportunity to be creative out-of-doors during the winter. Snow is like a free art supply...no Michael’s coupon required.
If it’s been years since you built a snowman, it’s been too long. Bundle up and head out to enjoy one of the positive opportunities that winter has to offer. The best days for building snowpeople are when the temperature is hovering near the freezing point. Fresh snow is also helpful. Start small and consider inviting a friend if you want to build larger snowpeople. Snowmen don’t have to be works of art to be appreciated. They can provide entertainment and pleasure just by existing. Snowmen are one of the things about winter that you can love, so get out and get creative! A snowman is waiting for you.
🔍To return to the main page, please click on the banner at the top of this page or click on this link: Cupola Corner Blog
You can purchase Bob Eckstein's book The History of the Snowman on Amazon.
To see a Readers' Digest summary of the book, click here: Readers' Digest
"20 Frosty Facts About Snowmen", by Mental Floss, can be viewed here: Mental Floss
