Are they real?

_Elsa_

She is curious now and needs to find out more about both of them. Are they real? She has to find out!

She finds a bit of information about both of them.

‘Jack Frost is a personification of frost, ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold. He is a variant of Old Man Winter who is held responsible for frosty weather, nipping the fingers and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, and leaving fern-like patterns on cold windows in winter.

Jack Frost represents the coming of dark, cold days. He is the personification of winter, a human form of winter weather. So, when we say, “Jack Frost is nipping at your nose,” we mean that you feel the cold, icy effects of winter on your face.’ (Source)

‘The phrase, “Old Man Winter” is a personification of the winter season. It is a symbolic phrase that is often used to describe the incoming cold weather, chill, and storms associated with the winter season. Many terms and phrases have been used to describe weather-based events in mythology, various religions, and basic stories passed on from one generation to another.’ (Source)

Ok she needs to look at one thing at a time. First she wants to read more about Jack Frost.

‘The ancient Greeks had the myth of Persephone and Hades, where Persephone the daughter of a goddess would spend six months on the Earth amongst humanity and thereby bring the summer months to human civilization. But for six months of the year, she would travel down to the underworld and spend it with Hades where the Earth in despair would become a barren wasteland, covered in snow.

According to Norse belief, the wind god Kari had a son whose name was ‘Jokul Frosti’, which directly translates to icicle frost. If any of you are wondering, this was the beginning of the Jack Frost tradition. As this little boy, according to Viking tradition would run through villages decorating the land, walls and windows with his magical snow art, this is the beginning of the view of Jack Frost as a mischievous magical friend.

However, if we travel forth off to Russia, we discover a far more sinister tale, in Russian folklore there is a blacksmith who forged huge metal chains to keep all of the water in the world together. After a while, the coldest parts of Russia decided to create for him a wife, this Frostwoman brought in the coldest winters imaginable each year to the world.

Other cultures, such as the Aborigines have other legends, such as the Seven Sisters throwing down hard icicles towards the Earth raining the cold down from the sky. In earnest, Jack Frost as we know him only really began in the 1800’s long after all of these traditions were established. Thomas Nast released a picture of Jack Frost in 1846 covered head to toe in icicles, though decidedly with not half as kind of a face as we know today.’ (Source)

Let’s continue here - Old Man Winter

Start at the beginning – Elsa shares some winter facts