Snowman Burning Day
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Where is Snowman Burning Day celebrated?
This day is celebrated in the US by children and adults alike.
Whom is Snowman Burning Day celebrated by?
This traditional day is widely celebrated by Americans.
When did Snowman Burning Day first start?
Snowman Burning Day was first celebrated on March 20, 1971.
Who started Snowman Burning Day?
The Unicorn Hunters of Lake Superior State University (LSSU), a former campus club, were the ones to start celebrating this day.
History And Timeline
For those who are inquisitive, snowman burning is exactly what it sounds like. It involves the burning of snowmen.
It was started in the Lake Superior State University by the Unicorn Hunters, the first Snowman Burning Day was initially observed in March 1971. Although the group is no longer in existence, many of its members were influenced once they saw the mayor strolling through town with a hay snowman at the Rose Sunday Festival in Germany.
Earliest Snowman
Mention of the earliest snowman is found to date back to the Middle Ages.
Middle AgesEarliest Illustration
The first illustration of a snowman is found in the 'Book of Hours,' found in The Hague.
1380First Photograph
Welsh photographer Mary Dillwyn clicks the first picture of a snowman.
1853The First Celebration
Snowman Burning Day was first celebrated at Lake Superior State University (LSSU) by the Unicorn Hunters.
1971Halting The Celebration
The event was reportedly canceled owing to environmental concerns. But the celebration was back on track after pressure from the public.
1992Traditions And customs
Snowman burnings are frequently a highlight of the year, but attendance varies year to year. Poems for the snowman burning have been written by students, faculty, employees, retirees, town residents, and primary school children.
Typically, the master of ceremonies greets the audience and offers a brief history of the event. Then, if there are any poems, they are read as the snowman burns.
Somewhere in between, the LSSU's public relations team converted the poetry reading into a competition. To inaugurate the competition, one month before the first day of spring, one or two elementary classes were selected to write poems around the burning of the snowman. The students were ecstatic to take part.
They were given a week or two before the event to submit poetry, which was judged. At the ceremony, the emcee read the top three.
Prizes were given out. Poets and aspiring poets could read their writings or have the emcee read them. The ritual takes about 15 minutes to complete.
Ways To Observe Or Celebrate Snowman Burning Day
Create your own straw snowman to burn on Snowman Burning Day. Make sure you keep safety in mind throughout the day. By igniting the miniature snowman, you will usher in the arrival of spring and bid farewell to the harshness of winter.
Visitors can go to Lake Superior to participate in the celebrations and see the customary snowman burning. Others may create a flammable snowman and invite guests to burn it to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Facts And Stats
- As Lake Superior is one of the coldest places in the country, celebrating the end of winter by burning a snowman is a big deal on this day, complete with a festival, hot dogs, burgers, poetry, and the biggest fire they've seen all year.
- The Snowman Burning Day will turn 51 years!
- Over the history of the Snowman Burning Day, the design of the snowmen has varied over the years. One year, the snowman was called 'snowperson' to show support for gender equality.
- A similar festival is also celebrated in Switzerland.
What is the importance of celebrating Snowman Burning Day?
Snowman Burning Day heralds the start of a new season and the shift from winter to spring. This traditional American and Swiss festival marks the end of the winter season.
What are some of the disadvantages to celebrating Snowman Burning Day?
The burning of a snowman made up of various things like paper or wood leads to the release of smoke into the atmosphere and further ruining it.
What are some events related to Snowman Burning Day?
Currently, the snowman is composed of paper, wood, and wire and is painted to seem like a genuine snowman. The Unicorn Hunters would hold various events and traditions on this day, including the annual poetry competition.
When Is This Day Celebrated
- Friday, March 20, 2020
- Saturday, March 20, 2021
- Sunday, March 20, 2022
- Monday, March 20, 2023
- Wednesday, March 20, 2024
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