A Wild Piece Of Holiday History

source: Reddit

It seems amusing and sentimental to look at the top of this well-known holiday icon inside of an old garage or storage area. It’s difficult to go back to your childhood Christmases watching TV with your family as soon as you see that soft fluffy white fur, large blue eyes and a very wide grin. That image instantly transports you to somewhere else.

Christmas classic character lost in storage

While the Abominable Snowman from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is obviously scary, he made up for the excitement and suspense in the storyline. Many children thought of him as the frightening element in a show that was otherwise a more mild holiday story. Rudolph’s world included christmas songs, snowflakes and toys, but it also contained fearsome things making it more memorable for children.

This type of enjoyment is still found while viewing old holiday classics. Old holiday programs did not remove all potentially frightening scenes because they believed their younger audience could handle a little suspense. The Abominable Snowman used this exact format. While he looked menacingly chasing the characters through the winter months, his oversized, over-the-top design kept him from appearing to be anything other than comically threatening.

source: Wikimedia Commons

Why is the Abominable Snowman so well remembered Today?

One reason why he has become well-remembered today is due to his overall design. He had a bold and cartoonish appearance, yet menacing enough to give the impression of being scary — the way only an older holiday program can create this kind of atmosphere. There is something instantly recognizable about him even Today.

In addition to his presence evoking a strong sense of nostalgia when seen on its own, his presence adds greatly to the overall sense of nostalgia when placed within the context of the original holiday special. When located in a snowy mountainous setting in the original holiday special, the Abominable Snowman added a lot of nostalgia. As he sits now in a small, unadorned shed, he appears to be a forgotten piece of christmas history. The contrast between these two settings makes his image visually appealing. When seeing this head by itself, you get an immediate feeling like you are discovering a lost piece of christmas nostalgia.

Lost items of holiday memories from our youth

He also reminds us that prior to entering into an age where technological advancements allowed us to produce polished products and experiences, holiday productions were tactile. We could see and feel the craftsmanship involved in producing items such as stuffed animals, hand painted facial expressions and expressive faces. Therefore, the Abominable Snowman from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a product of this earlier era and therefore retains a natural warmth that will continue to resonate with adults.

Many families felt that Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was more than just a television program. It was part of christmas. Every year, it became a family tradition to watch it. The Abominable Snowman was one of those classic characters that everyone remembered many years after watching it. The Abominable Snowman brought just enough excitement to the story to keep him embedded in people’s minds.

source: Flickr

Memories of family holiday traditions

That is why finding something similar to this is important. It is not just an old item, ornament, etc. It represents a time period when family holiday traditions were simpler, less foreign and filled with wonder. Images of this type bring back memories of twinkling tree lights in the living room, soft music playing in the background during holidays and the joyful anticipation of watching your favorite holiday shows.

Also, it is kind of funny to see him like this too. In the movie he was a monsrous force of nature. Now quietly sitting in a storage facility, he looks like a retired holiday star waiting for someone to recognize him. This only adds to his charm.

The Abominable Snowman from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer will be remembered for generations as one of the most popular holiday characters from television programming. Finding his head sitting in a corner of a storage unit gives me a funny, odd and warm feeling all at once. He is a great example that even some of the least expected pieces from our youth’s holiday celebrations can cause feelings of reminiscing about “the good old days”.