Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Jack Frost.


So as you probably already guessed, in this post I want to discuss a very delightful and pompous character known as Jack Frost. It's almost the first day of winter and I thought, what could be more appropriate than a post about Jack Frost? The myth of Jack Frost is traced back to Scandinavian folklore and originates from Norse mythology. But what is Jack Frost? Who is Jack Frost? 

Just the other day I was in the kitchen and The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause was on TV. If I'm being 100% honest, Jack Frost is the most interesting and entertaining character in the whole film. And seeing him portrayed by Martin Short, it got me thinking about Jack Frost - not the character in the film, but the mythological figure. 

Supposedly Jack Frost is the personification of - you guessed it - frost. He is the imaginary creature responsible for the cold nipping at your nose, fingers and toes. He is responsible for the fernlike patterns of frost you see on your window and on the bare tree branches.

Originally, he was never a person or anything that you could see or touch for that matter. Jack Frost was just a title given to the cold winter ice, snow, and frost. The name was used in countless poems and songs and tales. In such stories as Alice In Wonderland where the personification of Time is used and in tales by Hans Christian Anderson where the wind is referred to as "he", you can't picture these characters as physical beings. It's sort of the same thing with Jack Frost.

In some old Norse tales though, he was thought of as this Old Man Winter figure. Picture this huge giant of a man, pale complexion, light hair, blue eyes, extremely muscular, and wearing animal skins. Maybe he looks like a Scandinavian warrior in your mind. Throughout history people have thought of ways to explain the weather and natural occurrences of the earth. In Greek Mythology, Boreas, the North Wind, was the father of Chione, the goddess of snow. Perhaps Jack Frost (originally Jokul Frosti) was also some sort of god-like figure in Scandinavian folklore.

In the late 1800's, tales arose of Jack Frost depicted as a sprite. Imagine my excitement when I found that out!! But unlike a "typical" sprite, Jack Frost doesn't paint the leaves in the autumn. He's different. Whether he paints the icy patterns or uses his cold breath, he creates the frost.

As we see in different stories and films, his character is just as complex as his being. Is he ever consistent? Is he nothing more than the cold? Is he a man? Is he a snowman? Is he a fairy? Is he a villain? Is he the hero? Is he a Guardian? Is he charming, yet mischievous? Is he an adventurous and loving youth? Is he old and gruff? Sometimes he would have the characteristics of a sweet loving sprite. Sometimes he seems to have the characteristics of a mischievous pixie who will behave only if he can resist the temptation to play a foul prank for his own amusement.

He would seem like a delightful character either way, like the kind of guy one would love to write about and even more so, the kind of guy one would want to hang out with. I've been writing about a pillywiggin named Shaylee, a pixie named JuJuBee, and a beautiful sprite named Hollyhocks. I wonder what it would be like if there was another fairy; one called Jack Frost... ;)


10 comments:

  1. Sounds good, can't wait to read about Jack Frost in your book! :D

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    1. Thanks!! He's a very interesting character. We'll see where he goes...

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  2. So cool Love Jack Frost. Keep it interesting you're a great writer!

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  3. No Foolin, I think your characters could be played in several movies and even a t.v series as-well.
    Your stories have magic and adventure. unlike other boring books that i have not read ;D.
    As i said before; so much potential. What is this side of me that I'm feeling?...
    Welp Back to Watching Dr.Who....<3

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    1. Wow, that's a huge compliment! Thank you so much!! So cool you like Doctor Who!! ;)

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  4. didnt know all that about jack frost...your writing gets better day by day keep writing :)

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    1. Glad you learned something new haha Thanks, and I will!!

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  5. Yup. Love Jack Frost (the movie by that title isn't worth watching in my opinion) and would love to see you flesh him out a little -whether in your current book or somewhere else. Yes, some definite possibilities. Oh, as a complete side-note, I watched "The Pagemaster" with my daughter today and the little "fairies" reminded me of you.

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    1. Hmm, I'll have to check out that movie. My favorite depiction of Jack Frost is in the movie, "Rise Of The Guardians". Thanks so much for reading Jessica!! ;)

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