DOES ANYONE KNOW THE HISTORY OR ORIGIN OF MAKING A SNOWMAN? WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO MAKE A ROUND MAN OUT OF HUGE SNOW BALLS STACKED ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER? IS IT AN AMERICAN TRADITION OR DID IT COME FROM ANOTHER CULTURE?
WELCOME TO THE STRAIGHT DOPE MESSAGE BOARD. THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY GOOD QUESTION, AND I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS HAVE TO SAY.
BUT PLEASE DON’T SHOUT. We much prefer it if you employ traditional spelling and capitalization techniques. Thank you.
ACCORDING TO…um…According to Ben’s Snowman Site (tagline: SNOWMEN SNOWMAN SNOWMEN SNOWMAN SNOWMEN SNOWMAN SNOWMEN Dancing Snowmen! Snowmen in Movies! Snowman Sports! Snowman Television! Snowman History!)…well, couldn’t find anything there, but I like the tagline.
Sorry, that was the only site I could find that looked like it would have any info. Someone’s probably already answered the question anyway.
Wow, guess not. Anyway, I had no luck with a websearch, anyone out there want to show me up?
I do not think there was “a first person” in the sense “an adult”. I have rarely seen adults making snowpeople (PC first!), and if I saw them, it was always playing with children. In several geografically distant snowy places I always see chidren makinf snowmen. I do not think it needed an inventor, it’s almost “natural”: everyone does it, or/and throws snowballs. Adults clean the roads, etc. Children play. What else can you do with the snow?
Ya know, for years I have been trying to determine why, unlike in the US where snowmen are traditionally made with three spheres of snow, in Japan they make them with two, just a big body and a head. And absolutely nobody knows why it is done this way. Lots of guessing, but no real historical facts.
And speaking of snow persons, ever built one around a fire hydrant or tree stump and waited for some asshole to come try and kick it over? Muhahahaha… 
This site from Old Sturbridge Village describes a “snow statue” from the 1830s, so they’re at least that old. The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary says the word “snowman” dates from the early 19th century.
Goes back to ancient Egypt, of course. There are tomb paintings of three circles, stacked upwards, wearing a stove-pot hat. The heiroglyphs spell out PH-Ra-S-T-Y. Ra, of course, being the sun god.
You might think there was little snow in Ancient Egypt, but in fact they brought it up from what is now Ethiopia, in a clever trade move.
Isn’t it a joy, to discuss snowmen, it’s historical place, two vs. three part patterns, etc., etc., etc., after all those bitter political debates? Let’s suggest: mods, we need a resting, noncontrovercial BB for snowmen, cabbage and the like.