Snow Experiences
"And when the sun comes out—oh, the way it makes everything sparkle! As if the entire earth has been dusted with glitter, shimmering in the crisp winter light." - Lily F., Canada
There was nothing quite like a snow day as a child. Waking up to the news that school was closed felt like a secret gift from the sky. I’d rush to bundle up, layering myself in as much warmth as possible, barely able to wait before stepping outside into a world transformed. Snow was never just snow—it was an invitation. An invitation to build, to play, to throw handfuls of fluff into the air and watch it scatter like tiny stars. The joy of rolling snow into large balls for snowmen, sticking carrots and raisins into their faces for their eyes and nose, of running and falling and laughing in the cold soft fluff —it was pure magic.
And then, after hours of play, there was the warmth of home. Dropping off wet cold boots by the door, and settling into a cozy spot by the window with a cup of hot chocolate in my hands. Outside, thick snowflakes continued their quiet descent, covering everything in a peaceful embrace. The world looked softer, gentler, as if wrapped in a perfect stillness. I would sit there, sipping warmth, watching as the snow blanketed rooftops, trees, and streets, turning everything familiar into something new.
Even now, as an adult, snow hasn’t lost its wonder, in fact, the wonder has only increased. The first snowfall of the season still fills me with excitement. The way the flakes drift lazily at first, then fall in thick clusters, transforming the world bit by bit—it never gets old. I still have to run outside, still have to catch a flake in my palm and watch it vanish. That first step into fresh snow, the satisfying crunch beneath my boots, the crisp, cold air that makes everything feel alive—it's a thrill that never fades.
And then there’s the next morning. The way the world looks untouched, like a dream. The trees are heavy with snow, their branches bending under its weight, the ground an unbroken canvas of white. And when the sun comes out—oh, the way it makes everything sparkle! As if the entire earth has been dusted with glitter, shimmering in the crisp winter light.
Snow is beautiful, but it’s also fun. No matter how old I get, I’ll never stop marveling at how soft it is to fall into, how fun it is to shape into snowmen, how lying down to make a snow angel feels like sinking into something impossibly light and welcoming. Some things don’t change with time. Snow is one of nature’s most magical gifts.
Even on the coldest days, snow reminds me that joy can be as simple as stepping outside and letting the world surprise you.
More about snow from the Wonders Team
Snow forms when temperatures drop below 0°C and water vapor condenses into ice. Individual snowflakes are ice crystals and take on a variety of seemingly symmetrical but unique shapes. It always feels quieter after a snowfall because fresh snow dampens sound by absorbing sound waves.
Not only is snow beautiful and fun, it has a critical role to play in heating and cooling of the land’s surface. Because snow is white and thus highly reflective, a large amount of the sunlight that hits the snow is reflected back. With less snow, more sunlight is absorbed, absorbing more heat and melting more snow. This cycle promotes earlier and faster snow loss and this snow loss has which has impacts on wildlife behaviour and feeding, concentrations of mosquitos and other biting flies, coastal erosion and sea levels. The more the planet warms the less that snow can protect its northern inhabitants from the vicious cycle of melt.