What's the tallest snowman in the world? Well, it's actually a snowwoman. In 2008, the residents of Bethel, Maine, in the US, built Olympia the snowwoman. Olympia stood an impressive 37.21m (just over 122ft) tall.
Science has contributed to determining how to build the ultimate snowman. It turns out that getting the right type of snow is key. Snow that accumulates when the air temperature is just above freezing, around 0–2°C (32–35°F) is best.
At this temperature, free water is created between the ice crystals, which acts like a glue that allows your snowman to hold its shape. Snow with a moisture content between 3–8 per cent is ideal, but you’ll be faced with slush if it exceeds 15 per cent.
But why do we build snowmen, when they’re just going to melt? The first known depiction of a snowman dates back to 1380 in a Dutch prayer book called the Book of Hours. Unlike cheerful images of Frosty the Snowman or Olaf from Frozen, this 14th-century illustration shows an angry snowman melting by a fire.
According to the historian Robert Eckstein, snow provided a way for people to express themselves. In fact, he described snow as “free art supplies.” Building snowmen likely served as both entertainment and a creative form of self-expression, much like today’s selfies.
People could craft snow versions of themselves for fun (or vanity). Even the famous Michelangelo was asked to build a giant snowman in 1494 for Piero the Unfortunate.
Building snowmen has also provided a creative way for people to voice their thoughts about political issues. In 1511, the people of Brussels created over 200 snowy scenes, many of which made fun of politicians or other public figures. Snow became a medium for communication.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Teresa Thomas, via email) 'What's the biggest snowman ever built?'
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