As the temperature drops to freezing cold, we know the festive holiday season is among us. Many Chicagoans stay inside, right by the fire, eating cookies or setting up the Christmas tree. The more adventurous folk like to go sledding down the “big park hill” nearby or participate in wild snowball fights. However, for Chicago, the most popular winter activity would have to be building snowmen.

The snowman is one of America’s most expressive forms of folk art in the winter season. People like to build snowmen because of the cheap building materials to build them. To make a snowman, all a person needs is snow and a couple of household accessories like hats, scarves, winter jackets, buttons, and carrots. Despite popular belief, coal isn’t really used anymore for the buttons on a snowman. Coal is hard to access, which is mainly why people don’t use it anymore for the buttons on a snowman. When “Frosty the Snowman” hit the charts as a popular Christmas icon, building snowmen became a common Christmas tradition for families, friends, and all around the country. It certainly is a very creative activity that is also very enjoyable!

In years past, massive snow storms would hit Chicago, giving the city plenty of snow for exciting winter activities. One year, Chicago was hit with the “Polar Vortex,” which didn’t stop, but only encouraged people to keep up with the art of snowman-making. This wonderful tradition is suitable for all ages. Beginners might collect three large balls of snow, place them on top of each other, grab a carrot, some buttons, and a hat, and call it a day. However, some people are very creative with building snowmen, creating superheroes like Batman, or cartoon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants. The artists that go above and beyond and even use paint to decorate their snowmen. This art is very interesting and here are a couple of tips to help your snowman be the best it can be.

1.) Try to Look Around For a Good Location.

The best place to build a snowman would have to be under some sort of covering like a tree so it is protected and in a safe location.

2.) Try to use wet snow.

Building a snowman with dry (powdery) snow is useless. The snowman won’t form as well and will start to crumble as it is trying to be put up. Wet snow provides a stable yet malleable material for building.

3.) Watch out for the best weather conditions such as “Freezing Cold.”

The best weather to build a snowman in is when it is below freezing. At a cold temperature, the snow will stay together better rather than a warmer temperature.

4.) Don’t dress up the snowman in any clothes that you value.

The clothes used while building will get wet with snow, and potentially ruined. The blizzard conditions plus the hefty amount of snow will wear out the clothes over construction.

5.) Paint the snowman in food coloring to be artistic.

Images can be drawn on snow and they will hold their shape if the temperature stays down. People usually put faces on their snowmen. Emojis are a great source of inspiration to draw on the face of a snowman.

So, these are some helpful hints on how to craft up a “Frosty the Snowman” for Christmastime. Making a snowman is a holiday tradition that everyone should consider whether they are crazy about Christmas or winter season. Snowman-making definitely packs its punch on the winter activity list for the holiday season!