The Cold Men Who Warm My Heart

They come out in numbers, in all sizes and shapes, to occupy every room of my house. Each winter, beginning at Christmas, snowmen (and snow-women) perch in corners, on shelves, among the dishes, and anywhere a space can be found to bring warmth into my heart. The simple whimsical charm of a snowman puts a smile upon the face of all who see him.

Over the years, through gifts from family and friends, my collection has grown to over 200 snowman figurines, decorations, blankets, dinner ware, picture holders, and much, much more. People who visit are delighted to hear the musical sets play a favorite carol or to see the animated snowmen dance and sing.

As I mentioned earlier, my collection ranges from stuffed toys to fine china. And if you ask me which one is my favorite piece, I couldn't make that choice; each one is special and has a story behind it. Like snowflakes, each one is unique.

My husband's favorite snowman stands about three feet tall. We call him Snowie. I created him by hand nearly eighteen years ago. I remember how much fun it was to piece him together, each stitch seemed to bring him to life. He stands a silent sentinel at the bottom of the stairs greeting visitors as they enter through the front door.

I've posted a few snowmen from my collection below as an example of the assortment one can find in this special collection. Similar to people, they don't have to fit a certain mold. Diversity is wonderful, even with a snowman.

My online search for "how to build a snowman" produced 366,000 results (YouTube). Of course, the hit song from Frozen was among the top outcomes; and, it does feature a great snowman. Actual tutorials on building outdoor snowman sculptures are over 80,000 on the site. In 2007, Bob Eckstein, wrote a book on the history of the snowman and he claims this art form existed in medieval times.

People young and old love building snowmen. I remember how elated I was as a small child to see the first snowfall each year. I couldn't wait to get outdoors to join my sisters in sculpting the best snowman ever! Later as a mom, I enjoyed snowman building with my son in the cold mountain air of Virginia. Now as a grandparent, I cannot pass up the chance to demonstrate my skills of the art to our grandchildren! I urge all parents to get out in the cold and experience the fun with your kids. It is the perfect way to pass a snow day as a family.

I suppose the perfect snowman is totally symmetrical in form with each facial feature balanced and body adorned in appropriate winter clothing. I have seen some pretty artistic snowmen but the best ones are usually asymmetrical, wear off-key facial expressions and mismatched accessories.

He commandeth the snow to go down upon the earth . . . Job 37:6a

In spite of the bitter cold, I love winters up north. Those who live there can relate to the first snowfall and how it blankets the world in glistening white powder. The tree branches look amazing draped in sleeves of glittering snow. The ability to create something from these tiny sparkling particles brings a thrill to my heart.

Having said all that, I live in the sunny state of Florida and the only snowmen you can actually build are made of sand. It seems a bit silly to post one in your front yard at Christmas when the background features palm trees and flowering bushes. Still, we place a "snow-wire-man" out front each winter and at night we peek through the window to watch its twinkling lights and observe him tipping his hat to all who pass by the house.

It doesn't matter where you live, or what kind of weather you have, a snowman will always place a warm smile in your heart. And that is why I will continue to collect them.