ammy Snowman

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

Through the years people enjoyed their traditional holidays such as Christmas and Easter. But there had been some subtle changes in the holidays. They seemed to become more family-oriented and more attention was paid to the enjoyment of everyone celebrating being together with their acquaintances.

Sammy Snowman was symbolic of the winter festival in Lilliland. It was held in December each year. Sammy Snowman was the spirit of giving toys to children. Sammy was built outside in front of each home and decorated like any other snowman. Sammy’s basket was inside the home being filled with gifts from the parents for the children. The children knew that their parents loved them and gave them gifts on the holiday.

Other countries had a mythical Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus or Father Christmas bring the gifts, but in Lilliland the parents gave the gifts in the guise of Sammy Snowman.

There was the religious aspect to Christmas but when a child, whose parents did not celebrate Christmas, was visiting a family in Lilliland, the family realized this and began to talk about Sammy Snowman. The child could relate to Sammy Snowman because it had an interdenominational flavor that added to the celebration.

In celebrating Sammy Snowman, adults did not go out and buy gifts for other adults. They bought only for young children. The gifts that were most cherished were baskets of fresh fruit and fruitcake.

When the winter snows came people thought about having a Sammy Snowman and when spring came and the snow melted, they looked forward to the flowers that the season would bring and they bade farewell to Sammy Snowman until another time.

Sammy was also very helpful by keeping families out of debt because the joys of the season were not a strain on anyone’s budget.

Perhaps that was why Sammy Snowman was always smiling and happy.