Jack Frost - European

Have you ever felt a sudden shiver on a warm day, or seen your breath turn into a puff of white mist right in front of your face. That was probably me, saying hello. I am Jack Frost, the secret artist of winter, and I travel on the chilly north wind. For centuries, people in Northern Europe have told tales about the myth of Jack Frost to explain the magic of the changing seasons. As autumn ends and the world gets quiet, I search for my first canvas. The trees are sleepy, the animals are cozy in their burrows, and the air smells crisp and clean. This is my favorite time of year, when everything is waiting for my first touch. I get my special paintbrush ready, and I look for the perfect places to begin my work. The world becomes a giant, empty coloring book, and I have all the frosty colors I need to make it beautiful and get it ready for its long winter sleep.

My work begins when everyone is tucked into bed and the moon is high in the sky. I am invisible, as quiet as a falling snowflake, so no one ever sees me. My paintbrush is a long, sharp icicle, and my special paint is made from silvery moonlight and sparkling stardust. I tiptoe into towns and creep up to the windows of cozy houses. With a delicate flick of my wrist, I paint feathery ferns, swirling patterns, and sparkling stars on the glass. Each window gets a completely different design, a unique masterpiece just for the family inside. When you wake up and see my art, you know that winter is on its way. I also have a bit of a mischievous side. I love to gently nip at noses and cheeks, leaving them rosy red and glowing. And what about the trees. Before they go to sleep, I give them one last gift. I touch every green leaf, and with my frosty magic, I change them to brilliant shades of gold, orange, and fiery red. They become a beautiful, colorful blanket for the ground before the white snow arrives. It’s my job to make the world beautiful before it rests.

Long ago, people did not have fancy scientific tools to explain why delicate, icy patterns appeared on their windows or why leaves changed color so dramatically. The world was full of mysteries. The story of a playful, artistic boy who painted the world with frost made the cold winter feel less harsh and much more magical. My story gave a name and a face to the strange and beautiful things that happened when the weather turned cold. It made people see the frost not just as ice, but as a wonderful work of art. This is why the myth was so important. It helped people find wonder in the world around them. Even today, the story lives on. So, on the next chilly morning, I want you to run to the window and look for my patterns. When you see them, you’ll know that the magic of Jack Frost is still here, connecting you to the same sense of wonder people felt long, long ago.