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Snow that fell across Northern Virginia earlier this month lingered as prolonged freezing temperatures gripped the region. But amid icy sidewalks, slippery roads and everyday disruptions, residents found a brighter use for the stubborn accumulation: sculpting it into cheerful displays.
Local snow artists created figures in an assortment of shapes and sizes, transforming the wintry leftovers into visible expressions of their enthusiasm for the rare snowfall.
The familiar American snowman usually consists of three rounded sections forming the head and body. Sticks become arms, a carrot supplies the nose, and stones—now often used instead of harder-to-find coal—form the eyes. Hats and scarves are optional, and snowmen traditionally require no further clothing.
Some familiar features were reinforced by the popularity of the 1950s song “Frosty the Snowman,” written by Jack Rollins and Steve Nelson. The snowman’s origins remain uncertain, though references date to the Middle Ages. Michelangelo was even commissioned to build one for his patron in 1494.
Anyone seeking a larger challenge during the next snowfall faces a towering benchmark. Bethel, Maine, has held the record since 2008 with Olympia, a snow figure measuring 122 feet, 1 inch tall.