Snowflakes by Eden Monroe

 

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Every snowflake is a unique creation, and Wilson Bentley (1865-1931) was the first known photographer to ever capture them on film. Bentley was a farmer, and so given his special connection with nature and his respectful appreciation of it, he helped science understand these magnificent ice crystals. He said of his work:

“Under the microscope, I found that snowflakes were miracles of beauty, and it seemed a shame that this beauty should not be seen and appreciated by others. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost. Just that much beauty was gone, without leaving any record behind.”

Certainly lovely to look at, but how are individual snowflakes created in the first place? According to scijnks.gov/snowflakes/:  “A snowflake begins to form when an extremely cold water droplet freezes onto a pollen or dust particle in the sky. This creates an ice crystal. As the ice crystal falls to the ground, water vapor freezes onto the primary crystal, building new crystals - the six arms of the snowflake.”

As many as 200 ice crystals comprise each snowflake, and there are several basic shapes that begin their formation in the clouds. What they will eventually look like depends on temperature and humidity levels, constantly changing atmospheric conditions as they descend on different paths from the sky. So the chance that two natural snowflakes could have the same arrangement of water molecules is pretty remote. Similar, perhaps, but differing in details.

“Although the six-sided shape is always maintained, the ice crystal (and its six arms) may branch off in new directions….”

Snowflakes can also vary widely in size. The tiniest snowflakes are called diamond dust, suspended glittering in the air, and there are documented incidents of snowflakes reaching a remarkable diameter of two to six inches.

 

Snowflakes have always captured our imagination, and in the romantic suspense novel, Looking for Snowflakes, it’s all about a tiny poodle called Snowflakes. She got her name because she liked to chase down and catch these beautiful ice crystals on her tongue. High spirited and adorable, Snowflakes embodies the infectious spirit of Christmas with her never-ending supply of canine warmth and charm. Everyone loves her and it’s precisely because she is so irresistible that she finds herself in a terrible predicament, stolen from Cole’s vehicle on the day before Christmas:

“The security officer folded his arms. ‘I don’t know what your chances are of getting the dog back because there’s so little to go on, but I wish you all the luck in the world. What kind of dog was it?’

Cole sighed, dreading the news he would have to break very soon. ‘A small white poodle.’

The store manager had gotten to his feet behind his desk. ‘At least she’s not out running around loose. The temperature is supposed to drop fast tonight. It’s going to be a cold one.’

Minutes later Cole was back sitting in his truck. Poor little Snowflakes, he only hoped she was safe and that whoever took her would be kind. He shoved unpleasant images from his mind with an effort. He had to call Elsa right away and tell her what happened, but then just as quickly decided he couldn’t do it over the phone. She at least deserved to be told in person. She was not going to be happy and he couldn’t blame her. He wouldn’t be too happy either if that had happened to his dog.

He made his way to what was now Elsa’s place, alone, in Stoney Creek. He kept a sharp eye out for a tiny white dog on foot, hoping against hope, but of course there was nothing. No such luck to have the dog back safely in his care. He might as well face the music and be done with it. He could see that her car was in the drive when he pulled in and got out. He was glad she wasn’t in the window watching for them because she’d know immediately that something was wrong if he was walking to the door without the dog.

She answered on the second knock and looked at him strangely when she didn’t see Snowflakes. ‘Where’s the dog?’ she asked, checking the ground to see if she had walked to the door instead of being carried.

‘Can I come in?’

‘Certainly you can come in, but where’s Snowflakes?’

He stepped in and pulled the door shut behind him. ‘Elsa, I’m afraid I have some really bad news and I wanted to tell you in person rather than over the phone.’

She looked stricken. ‘What do you mean you have really bad news? I assume it’s about Snowflakes since she isn’t with you.’

‘It’s about Snowflakes. She was….’

‘Run over?’ she demanded, tears springing to her eyes. ‘Snowflakes is dead?’

He reached to put his arms around her but she deftly stepped out of his embrace, stiff as a poker so he dropped his arms. ‘No, she didn’t get hit by a car and as far as I know she’s not dead.’

“ ‘What do you mean as far as you know? What’s going on, Cole? Where’s my dog?’ ”

There is of course a close connection between snowflakes, the ones that fall from the sky and accumulate in cold climates, and the Christmas season. We have Charles Dickens to thank for our preference of a white Christmas. A Christmas Carol was written during the Victorian era when London and much of England was still experiencing what is referred to as the little ice age. That meant there was an abundance of snow on the ground, even a winter fair held on the Thames, frozen solid at that time in a country where the average winter temperature now is between 36-45 degrees Fahrenheit. And the small amount of snow that does fall in that area happens in January or February. However there is usually plenty of opportunity to see snowflakes in England, lots of them. In the North Pennines located in the northernmost section of the Pennnine range of hills running north to south through northern England, it usually snows about fifty-three days in the run of a year.

Snow or no snow, Dickens took only six weeks to write A Christmas Carol, seeing it through to publication in December of 1843. Struggling financially he felt the book would sell well, and indeed all 6,000 copies sold out in a week. But production costs were high considering its red fabric binding, gilt edges and coloured illustrations, so Dickens didn’t fare as well as he’d hoped when all of the pennies were finally counted.  But the book did achieve immortality, still popular 179 years later, as is the ideal he created for snow at Christmas.

Whether a backdrop to a story, or the actual story itself, snowflakes have also become a big part of our Christmas vernacular through song, immortalized in such timeless classics as: I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas (Irving Berlin); Let it Snow (Styne & Cahn); Frosty the Snowman (Autry, Rollins & Steve Nelson) and more. Who hasn’t sung along, given our fascination with snowflakes and their ability to transform our world at Christmas?

Snow may be synonymous with the festive season in many parts of the world, but of course nature’s frozen crystals can be enjoyed at any time during the winter months. That includes embracing them en masse in a postcard perfect setting; through a myriad of popular outdoor sports, or simply studying their dazzling beauty individually. For the latter all you need is black construction paper and a magnifying glass. Nature will provide the show, and what better way to enjoy some incredible natural artwork? Looking at Snowflakes could be a whole new winter pastime.