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WedDec 18

Flake Appreciation Day – December 18, 2024

Flake Appreciation Day is a special holiday that is celebrated on December 18 every year in the United States. The holiday is used to show appreciation for snowflakes which are loved by many. Snowflakes are beautiful, unique, and naturally occurring. They come in complex shapes and sizes and are divided into 35 categories. As with human fingerprints, no two snowflakes are exactly alike. Snowflakes are created when water vapor in clouds freezes around dust particles due to humidity. Typically hexagonal, snowflakes can sometimes take the form of flat, needle-shaped particles.

History of Flake Appreciation Day

Snowflakes are a subject of thought and appreciation on Flake Appreciation Day. The event is celebrated around December when snow begins to fall in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Snowflakes can be classified into one of 35 different shape groups based on their size and shape. When water vapor in the clouds condenses into ice crystals, snowflakes spontaneously appear in nature. Snowflakes’ shapes are impacted by elements like dust, temperature, humidity, and currents.

There are different numbers of water molecules in snowflakes, which cause them to form a crystal pattern. Because of diffuse reflection, snowflakes appear white even though they are made of clear ice. Snowflakes are usually studied by putting a chemical compound on a glass plate and allowing a flake to land on the plate. The chemical compound covers the snowflake and hardens. The snowflake leaves its shape behind after it melts.

The history of snowflakes was greatly influenced by Wilson Bentley. He was born in 1865 in Jericho, Vermont. His work is significant as he helped discover that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. He used a type of photography that uses microscopes called photomicrography to take pictures of 5,000 snowflakes. Bentley published articles and books about his findings and donated some of his photographs to the Smithsonian Institution. He was the world’s leading snowflake expert and was referred to as ‘The Snowflake Man’ until he died in 1931.

Flake Appreciation Day timeline

1555
Snowflakes are Documented

Scandinavian bishop Olaus Magnus describes snowflakes as having a peculiar assortment of shapes.

1591
Snowflakes Have Symmetry

Thomas Harriot correctly identifies the snowflake’s sixfold symmetry.

1865
Wilson Bentley is Born

The snowflake expert is born in Vermont.

1885
Bentley Photographs Snowflakes

Bentley succeeds in photographing his first snow crystal.

Flake Appreciation Day FAQs

Why are there big snowflakes?

When the temperature is close to freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit), the snow crystals melt and condense into these bigger aggregates. The snow crystals grow in size as they fall and collide with one another, transforming into larger snowflakes as they approach the earth.

What does a snowflake symbolize?

According to an ancient Zen proverb “A snowflake never falls in the wrong place.” The beauty of snowflakes, their hypnotizing silhouettes, and their mysterious formation process has made them the center of legends, symbols of purity, and accurate proverbs spanning different cultures and philosophies.

Do snowflakes fall fast?

Snowflakes fall at an average speed of three to four miles per hour.

Flake Appreciation Day Activities

  1. Do some research

    You can do some research to learn more about snowflakes. The research will expand your knowledge base.

  2. Spend the day with others

    The holiday will be more fun when you spend and share it with others. You can tell your friends about the holiday online or in person, and you all can celebrate together.

  3. Catch some snowflakes

    Consider going outside and catching some snowflakes on your tongue if you're fortunate enough to have snow today. You could build snowballs and snowmen using the snow, depending on how much snow has piled on the ground. You may make a road trip to a location where snow is forecast or where snowflakes frequently fall to ensure you see some.

5 Interesting Facts About Snow

  1. Many people have not seen it

    A snowflake has never been seen by around half the world's population.

  2. Snow is not white

    Snow is not white but translucent.

  3. Snow can be blue

    Snow can appear blue when it has built many layers.

  4. Snow can be pink

    Some types of freshwater algae tint the snow with red pigment, which makes it appear pink.

  5. Igloos are warm

    Igloos are made of snow but can be 100 degrees warmer on the inside than it is on the outside.

Why We Love Flake Appreciation Day

  1. It gives off calm, relaxing vibes

    As the snow melts and then refreezes, the snow surface can harden and reflect sound waves, allowing sounds to be heard more clearly and farther away. This fosters a tranquil environment. A fresh snowfall still can calm us down on all levels, even in our most stressful situations.

  2. It links us to childhood memories

    Snow is the substance that is most naturally linked to childhood, and it might be difficult for many of us to avoid going back to those brighter, carefree times. Many of us have fond recollections of our childhoods spent playing in the snow, so when we see those big, fluffy flakes falling from the sky, our good memories come flooding back.

  3. It reminds us of the beauty in nature

    While rain usually shrouds our surroundings in a gloomy, dreary grayness, its frozen counterpart brightens them and transforms them into exquisite winter wonderlands. We can become enchanted by the great expanse of white space and the powdered evergreen trees to the point that we find it impossible to look away.

Flake Appreciation Day dates

Year Date Day
2024 December 18 Wednesday
2025 December 18 Thursday
2026 December 18 Friday
2027 December 18 Saturday
2028 December 18 Monday
December
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 

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