The details may vary but building snowmen is pretty much universal where there’s snow. Humans have probably been making them for tens of thousands of years. But it wasn’t until the last century or two that they have become the winter icon they are today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of Stuff You Should Know, the hosts Josh and Chuck talk about making snow people and explore the relationship between our brains and experiences by asking unusual questions, like whether we can create new senses for humans.
Research suggests that humans have been making snowmen for tens of thousands of years, with origins traced back to Europe during the plague. However, the widespread popularity of building snowmen can be partly credited to a Jewish snowman character named "Shmuck the Snowman".
From acts of vandalism to Renaissance masterpieces, snow has been used as a medium for art for centuries. This podcast explores the history of snow sculptures and the evolution of snowmen.
The snowman has evolved into the recognizable figure today during the Victorian era, whereas Santa Claus was initially part of a promotional campaign for Coca-Cola in the 1930s.
During World War II, a Nazi Germany cut off from the West commissioned the Schneeman cartoon, which was made in 1943. It told the story of a snowman who ventured to a nearby home and discovered summertime pictures, ultimately signaling the coming of another melting.
The creator of "The Snowman" and his controversial parenting practices are discussed.
The podcast discusses the hatred towards a particular movie by Roger Ebert, and the comedic relief brought by Olaf in Frozen.
The Snowman Burning Festival is an event that signifies the end of winter and the coming of spring. Popularized in Lake Superior State University, Michigan, and also adopted by Gaylord, Michigan as Alpin Fest, the townspeople write their worries, problems, and concerns on a piece of paper which is then stuffed inside the snowman before it is burned.
Learn how to create a perfectly round snowball and get tips for building a snow person using the right consistency of snow.
This podcast snippet discusses the importance of letting children name their own snow people and raising awareness about Coed, an organization that helps girls in Guatemala access education.
This podcast explores the connection between our brains and experiences through investigating unusual questions such as the possibility of creating new senses for humans.