18 January is World Snowman Day!

If you want a really cool friend, you have to build a snowman. Starting in November, it's hard to avoid these cute fellows with their pleasant, round shapes and cheerful faces. The ones in shop windows and in children's drawings they are made of materials like polystyrene, cardboard, wood and wool. They're not made of snow yet, because there isn't usually enough of it around at this time of year to build real snowmen.

These friendly fellows symbolise the pleasant side of winter and are often depicted with a little bird perched on their obligatory nose, chatting happily with their host. They are an integral part of Christmas, and their real home is on postcards sent at this time of year, as well as on virtual Christmas greetings. In December, websites are flooded with snowman-themed content.

Since 2010, there has also been a designated Snowman Day, which comes as no surprise. This special day takes place in January, when there is usually enough snow to build such a sculpture in the garden, yard or countryside. However, the day is not just intended for everyone to rush outside and get creative with sculpting. It also has other purposes. On 18 January, you can choose any activity you like, whether it's a charity event or something related to the environment, as long as it involves a snowman or has some connection to one. It's a nice idea because, with a little imagination, you can link any event to this guest of honour.

There are several reasons why 18 January was chosen as Snowman Day. The number eight was chosen because it consists of two 'balls', just like a snowman. The number one can stand for the broom or stick usually given to this cool companion. Additionally, heavy snowfall is more likely to be expected in January – no one expects it before Christmas anymore – as the seasons have shifted slightly in recent years.

Older generations remember white Christmases as the norm, with children delighted to find sleds under the Christmas tree. There were sledding runs everywhere, often lined with snowmen of all sizes. They weren't always as pretty as the ones on postcards, with faces made of carrots and pieces of coal, but stones and pieces of wood did the trick, too. Brooms were replaced by large sticks, because mothers wouldn't have been happy if their cleaning tools ended up on the sledging hill. This type of leisure activity has become rare today, as there hasn't been enough snow in recent years for proper sledging.

Children are no longer drawn outside in winter. They have found other things to do. Perhaps playing a computer game in which you have to collect or destroy snowmen, for example. The bottom line is that this day is one that the world doesn't need, but it certainly provides an opportunity for creative events, and a peacefully grinning snowman – or snowwoman – makes pleasant company for a while. They're just really cool friends!

© '18 January is World Snowman Day! A snowman is a really cool friend for really cool people': An article by Pressenet (translated by Izabel Comati), 01/2026. Image credit: Snowman in winter, CC0 (Public Domain Licence).