By Briana Davis

Jack Frost is a mythical being. Jack Frost is a representation of the charm, harshness, and transformative power of winter. His is portrayed differently across cultures and in different kinds of media. However, his is often pictured with an icy appearance — frost covered hair, icy blue eyes, translucent or crystalline skin — to emphasize his connection with winter and cold weather. Additionally Jack Frost often behaves mischievously or playfully, which aligns with folklore traditions where his is seen as a whimsical character who enjoys creating frost patterns and winter weather. 

Jack Frost is often associated with Christmas due to the fact that he is the often portrayed as the personification of winter and cold weather. The earliest mention of Jack Frost dates back to the 18^th or 19^th century. However, the origins of the Jack Frost character vary across cultures and interpretations of the character. Additionally, some of the Jack Frost tales are believed to have originated from Norse and Anglo-Saxon winter customs. Jack Frost is a character that has appeared in many types of media: poems, songs, stories, paintings, sculptures, and movies.  In fact, The first video entitled Jack Frost was released on January 14, 1934. Some popular depictions of Jack Frost include: Rise of the Guardians (Movie), The Christmas Song, the Rainbow Magic book series, The Frost King by Helen Keller. However, there are many more depictions of Jack Frost.

Jack Frost is also associated with many winter activities, businesses, and special events. For example, the Jack Frost Big Boulder is a resort in the Poconos named after him. There is also a holiday pop-up event in Fulton Market, Chicago called the Jack Frost Holiday Pop-up. Many more winter activities and events are inspired by Jack Frost and pay homage to his enduring legacy and impact on winter festivities. Jack Frost continues to shape not only cultural narratives, but he also contributes to the joy and magic associated with wintertime and Christmas.