Snowman that he symbolized in the past (7 photos) Bashny.Net

Winter came and transformed the world with its frosty breath. Sometimes it becomes like a wonderful tale: flying white fluffy snow, sparkling sheltered winter blanket sleeping earth ... and in every yard, as if by magic, appear wrapped in scarves funny snowmen. This fun winter idea known to people for centuries. But not many people know what was in the supernatural sense of a snowman in the past ...



According to ancient tradition, the end of the XV century, around 1493, Italian sculptor, architect and poet Michelangelo Buonarroti first snow blinded figure. According to historical research, the first written mention of the snowman is found in the book of the XVIII century: it speaks of "the beautiful snowman" gigantic. And the word «schneeman», that is, "snowman" originally appeared in German. Snowman image first appeared as illustrations for children's books with songs, published in Leipzig.



The first depicted snowmen snowy unkind ferocious monsters impressive size. It is no coincidence, because in the old days the ruthless winters with frosts and dank lyutymi blizzards brought a lot of hassle. Most likely, it was then and there beliefs, according to which snowmen pose a real threat to people. We thought that it was dangerous to mold them into the full moon: for a man's disobedience can result in obsessive nightmares, night terrors, and all sorts of setbacks. And in Norway there was a tradition that the snowman is dangerous to look at the late evening because of curtains. In addition, it was considered a bad omen to meet a snowy night a figure: it was recommended to pass by.

Only in the XIX century, the snow create a "kinder" and soon became an indispensable attribute of the Christmas and New Year. Greeting card with a picture of a cute smiling snowman surrounded by cheerful children quickly gaining popularity. Curiously, in the view of the European peoples snowman - it is always being male, snowmen and Snow Maidens have ever had. In English, for its designation I have only one word - «snowman».



According to the old European parable, St. Francis of Assisi considered the creation of a kind of snowmen way to fight demons. And another Christian legend, snowmen - angels. After the snow - a gift from heaven. So, the snowman - none other than the angel, which can transmit a request to God people. For this small snegovichka fashioned from fresh snow and quietly whispered to him his wish. They believed that as soon as the snow melts figure, the desire to be delivered directly to heaven and soon fulfilled.



In Europe, always sculptured snowmen near the houses, lavishly decorated with garlands and household goods, wrapped up in scarves and hand handed branched broom. The details of their "attire" guessed mystical character. For example, a carrot nose attached to propitiate the spirits, sending the yield and fertility. Inverted bucket on his head symbolized prosperity in the house. Romania has long been known for the custom of decorating a snowman "beads" of heads of garlic. It was believed that this contributes to the health of the household and keeps them away from mischief dark forces.



Snowman devoted great children's stories. The most famous - a fairy tale of Hans Christian Andersen "Snowman." Dog snowman tells about his life, about people and about the stove, which she loved to bask, as a puppy. And Snowman also appeared inexplicable desire to get closer to the stove, he felt something moving in it. For days, instead of rejoicing bitter cold, he missed looking at the furnace through the window ... Spring came, and snowman melted. Only then there was the explanation of his sadness: snowman strengthened on the poker, and that it was moving at a home stove.

The hero of another kind of German fairy tales Mandy Vogel «Der Wunsh des braunen Schneemannes» («Dream brown Snowman") - Chocolate Snowman. He wants to see the snow, and his friend, boy, Tim, takes it to the streets. Snegovichok delighted with the white winter day, and children's games in the snow. In the end, chocolate snowman itself is covered with snow, he genuinely enjoys it, thinking that he was now as white as all around. But Tim, seeing that his fabulous brown friend is far from ideal whiteness, does not dare to disturb his happiness.



In Russia, the sculptured snowmen in ancient pagan times and was revered as the spirits of winter. To them, as to the frost, are treated with due respect and apply for assistance and reducing the duration of severe frosts. By the way, snowmen and Snow Maiden - this is our, Russian heritage. Our ancestors believed that winter natural phenomena (fog, snow, blizzards) rule over the spirits of the female sex. Therefore, in order to show them my respects, sculptured snowmen.



No wonder there is an expression "winter-mother", "cold-father." And sometimes even the month of January and is called - "Snowman." For our people snowman - it is also one of the favorite Christmas characters. In the glorious Soviet cartoons "Snowman mailer," "When the lighted Christmas tree" Snowman appears as a sure pomoschnikDeda Frost on the farm. In the Soviet Union snegovichkov artfully painted greeting cards.

Today, in our civilized world, creating snow figures is not only a favorite pastime of kids, but also socially organized holiday. Worldwide putting records on the molding of the highest snowman. The highest in Europe snowman emblazoned on the slopes of the ski resort in Austria, in Galtür: its height reached 16 meters 70 centimeters. A record for the creation of the highest snowman in the world was installed in the United States in 1999, its height - 37 meters 20 centimeters, weight - 6000 tons of snow.

We do not lag behind in this regard and we are! In Moscow, for several years in the estate of Santa Claus in Kuzminki Park hosts the annual competition "Parade of snowmen." Let our snow figures rising only person, but the number (a few dozen) is very impressive!