The Man, the Myth, the Legend

From Frosty to the Abominable, snowmen manage to warm hearts year after year. Here's how to celebrate snow and make the yard sparkle with your family's creativity

By Mary Fons
CTW Features

Image courtesy iStockphoto

If you happened to be born in the civilized world anytime after 1950, you can probably hum at least a few bars of “Frosty the Snowman.” The catchy song capitalized on the love people had for that happy, benign, cuddly-even-though-he’s-freezing-cold character: the snowman. As the winter drags on and snow dumps on many parts of the country, a lesson in snowmen – and a few tips on how to make a really good one – might help while you wait for the frost. “From the start of time, man has always wanted to depict himself, whether it be [via] cave paintings or rock carvings,” says Bob Eckstein, author of The History of the Snowman (Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2007). “There’s no reason to believe sculptures were made not only of clay but of materials which simply didn’t stand the test of time like wood, sand and yes, snow. That said, snowman-making is probably one of man’s oldest forms of folk-art.” Eckstein spent the better part of six years hunting down the origin of the snowman, learning about the part snowmen play in the various cultures where they are found and understanding the ways snowmen have been used to sell everything from food to feminine hygiene products.

“The first printed snowman, I am confidant, has been found in The Hague Royal Library in the form of an illustration in the margins of an illuminated manuscript from around 1380,” Eckstein says. “Documentation from old diaries in the Middle Ages demonstrates that snowman-making was a popular activity.” Eckstein adds, “Clues indicate that this winter pastime goes back to at least 7th century Northern China and experts in the field of archaeology agree with me that prehistoric man most likely made snowmen.” Over 6,000 years later, we’re still out in the drifts, rolling balls of snow into the form of a chubby guy with a scarf and sticks for arms. How come? Lynnette Walczak is editor and publisher of the Fun Times Guide, an online network of entertainment guides that recently featured pictures from a snowman contest. Walczak says making a snowman is “a great way to live out loud and be a kid again. The act of building a snowman is fun for people of all ages because it's an outlet for our creative sides and there's no grading curve. Plus, the satisfaction level is so high – every snowman looks ‘just perfect’ in the eyes of its creator.” Donning mittens and creating a Frosty is a way to work your creative muscle, but it’s also good for your health. Not only will you burn calories by engaging in an active, outdoor activity, you’ll probably de-stress, too. “Building a snowman is a great activity that takes you away from the hustle & bustle,” Walczak says, “Plus, it's something that most people don't get to do but a couple times each year. It's a fun way to take your mind off of other things.” “Snowmen are very popular today because, although it couldn’t be more public; no artwork is less judgmental,” Eckstein says. “It gives everyone a chance to be creative and have fun every time the sky drops free art supplies in front of every yard.”

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