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{{Short description|Personification of frost and cold weather}}
{{other uses|Jack Frost (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses}}
[[File:Jack-frost.jpg|thumb|325px|19th-century cartoon depicting Jack Frost as a [[Major general (United States)|United States major-general]] during the [[American Civil War]]]]
'''Jack Frost''' is a [[personification]] of [[frost]], [[ice]], [[snow]], [[Rain and snow mixed|sleet]], [[winter]], and [[freezing]] [[cold]]. He is a variant of [[Old Man Winter]] who is held responsible for frosty weather, nipping the fingers and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, and leaving fern-like patterns on cold windows in winter.


Starting in late 19th century literature, more developed characterizations of Jack Frost depict him as a [[sprite (entity)|sprite]]-like character, sometimes appearing as a sinister mischief-maker or as a hero.
[[Image:Jack-frost.jpg|thumb|300px|right|19th-century cartoon of Jack Frost as a [[United States]] [[major-general]] during the [[American Civil War]]]]


==Background==
In English [[folklore]], '''Jack Frost''' appears as an [[elf]]ish creature who personifies crisp, cold, winter weather; a variant of [[Father Winter]] (also known as "[[Old Man Winter]]"). Some{{who?}} believe this representation originated in [[Viking]] folklore.
[[File:Iceflowers - Flickr - Stiller Beobachter.jpg|thumb|Frost on a window]]
Jack Frost is traditionally said to leave the frosty, fern-like patterns on windows on cold winter mornings (window [[frost]] or fern frost) and nipping the extremities in cold weather. Over time, window frost has become far less prevalent in the modern world due to the advance of [[Insulated glazing|double-glazing]], but Jack Frost remains a well-known figure in popular culture. He is sometimes described or depicted with paint brush and bucket coloring the autumnal foliage red, yellow, brown, and orange.<ref>Bartholomew F. Bland, Laura L. Vookles, William H. Gerdts, Laura L. Vookles. (2010) ''Paintbox Leaves: Autumnal Inspiration from Cole to Wyeth''. Hudson River Museum. p. 41. {{ISBN|0943651301}}.Tveten, John L. and Gloria Tveten. (2008). ''Nature at Your Doorstep: A Nature Trails Book''. Texas A&M University Press. p. 47. {{ISBN|1603440364}}.</ref> According to other customs, he is said to be the husband of [[Suzy Snowflake]].<ref>{{cite web |title='Coolest place to be:' Jack Frost ready for holiday season |url=https://www.times-news.com/community/coolest-place-to-be-jack-frost-ready-for-holiday-season/article_82a1c0fe-a74c-11ef-b06e-3f0c49c78271.html |website=The Cumberland Times-News |access-date=20 November 2024}}</ref>


==History==
Tradition holds Jack Frost responsible for leaving frosty [[crystal]] patterns on windows on cold [[morning]]s (window [[frost]] or fern frost).
[[File:SNLC stop at Arctic circle.jpg|thumb|Passenger with [[Sunlit Nights Land Cruises|SNLC]] cruise train greeting "kung Bore", the Swedish equivalent of Jack Frost, during a stop at the arctic circle in Sweden, 1950s.]]
Tales of Jack Frost may originate from Anglo-Saxon and Norse winter customs. The Finnish equivalent ''Pakkasukko'' has an entire chapter named after him in ''[[Kalevala]]'', the Finnish national epic compiled from their ancient oral tradition. In Swedish folklore, the equivalent is ''Kung Bore'' (King Bore); the name originating from Swedish 17th century writer [[Olaus Rudbeck]].


There are various other mythological beings who take on a similar role yet have a unique folklore to them. In Russia, he has taken on a different form as [[Ded Moroz|Grandfather Frost]], and in Germany there is instead a different entity altogether known as [[Frau Holle|Mrs. Holle]]. The [[Hindu Kush]] mountain range is named after stories of a resident giant who would kill (''kesh'') those who attempted to pass, and has been compared to England's Jack Frost.<ref>“The Upper Basin of the Kabul River,” C. R. Markham. ''Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography New Monthly Series'', Vol. 1, No. 2 (Feb., 1879), pp. 110-121.</ref><ref>''Rollo's Museum.'' Jacob Abbott. Boston, Weeks, Jordan, and Company. 1839, p. 185.</ref>
== Possible sources and parallels ==


The earliest reference to Jack Frost in literature<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chamberlain |first1=Rebecca |title=Where did Jack come from? The origin of Jack Frost |url=https://rlcwords.co.uk/2020/02/07/origin-of-jack-frost/ |website=RLC words |date=7 February 2020 |access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref> is in the book 'Round About Our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments' published in 1732.<ref>{{cite book |title=Round About Our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments |date=1734 |location=London |page=6 |edition=4th |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Round_about_our_Coal_Fire,_or,_Christmas_Entertainments,_4th_edn,_1734.pdf |access-date=17 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bim_eighteenth-century_round-about-our-coal-fir_1732/mode/2up?q=Jack |title=Round about our coal-fire: or, Christmas entertainments. Containing, Christmas gambols, tropes, figures, &c. ... Adorn'd with many curious cuts. 1732 |date=1732 |others=Internet Archive}}</ref>
Proponents{{who?}} of Jack Frost's Viking folklore roots state that the [[English language]] derives the name "Jack Frost" from the [[Norse mythology|Norse]] character names, [[Jokul]] ("[[icicle]]") and [[Frosti]] ("frost"). Others{{who?}} see "Jack Frost" as a much more recent import into [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] culture from a [[Russia]]n [[fairy tale]] (see [[Morozko]]). In the Finnish epos ''[[Kalevala]]'' (canto number 30, as translated from Finnish into English by [[Keith Bosley]]) Jack Frost appears as the son of Blast, "Pakkanen Puhurin Poika".<ref>
See [http://www.kaapeli.fi/maailma/kalevala/KOLMASKYMMENES.html Finnish Kalevala])
</ref>
Other tales in Russia represent frost as Father Frost, a [[Smith (metalwork)| smith]] who binds water and earth together with heavy chains. Compare the German folklore figure, the old woman ''[[Frau Holle]]'', who causes snow by shaking white feathers out of her bed.


Jack Frost is mentioned in many songs – such as the wintertime song "[[The Christmas Song]]" (aka "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") – and movies. He has been presented as a [[villain]] in some media and a [[hero]] in others.
Jack Frost may{{Or|date=June 2008}} represent an ancestral memory of the Anglo-Saxon and Norse God, [[Ullr]], one of the twelve [[Aesir]]. Ullr, the god of the winter and snow{{Fact|date=June 2008}}, can have epithets such as "ski-god", "bow-god", "hunting-god" and "shield-god". In Germanic paganism, Ullr appears as a major god in prehistoric times, or even an [[epitheton]] (*wulþuz, Old English ''wuldor'', meaning "glory") of the head of the pantheon of Germanic mythology. The 3rd-century [[Thorsberg chape]] and late Icelandic sources mention Ullr, but little other information regarding the god has survived.


== In fiction ==
==In popular culture==
{{in popular culture|section|date=December 2021}}


=== Printed works ===
===Literature===
* [[Hannah Flagg Gould]]'s (1789-1865) poem "The Frost" features a mischievous being responsible for the quieter phenomena of winter, beautiful ice paintings on windows but who also got upset at lack of gifts and caused the cold to break and ruin things.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dvjq1dwGmgIC&pg=PA48|title=The Female Poets of America: By Rufus Wilmont Griswold|first=Rufus Wilmot|last=Griswold|date=26 November 2018|publisher=Ardent Media|via=Google Books}}</ref>
* In Margaret T. Canby's "Birdie and His Fairy Friends" (1874), there is a short story titled "The Frost Fairies." In this story, Jack Frost is the king of the [[Fairy|Winter Spirits]] and is described as a kind fellow who wants to help children, whereas a king of a neighboring kingdom, King Winter, is cruel to them. The story tells the origins of how Jack Frost began to oversee the coloring of the leaves of the forest in fall.
** In 1891 [[Helen Keller]] made her own reproduction of the story, titled [[The Frost King]].
* In [[Charles Sangster]]'s "Little Jack Frost", published in The Aldine, (Vol.7, No.16, 1875) Jack Frost is a playful being who runs around playing pranks and 'nose-biting', coating places with snow before being chased off by Dame Nature for spring.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Little Jack Frost. A Rhyme for Flossie |author=Charles Sangster |journal=The Aldine |date=April 1875 |volume=7 |issue=16 |page=308 |doi=10.2307/20636992 |jstor=20636992}}</ref>
* In [[L. Frank Baum]]'s ''[[The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus]]'' (1902), Jack Frost is the son of the otherwise unnamed Frost King. He takes pleasure in nipping "scores of noses and ears and toes", but Santa Claus, who likes Jack (who he sees as a "jolly rogue") though he mistrusts him, asks him to spare the children. Jack says he will, if he can resist the temptation. The same Jack appears in "The Runaway Shadows", a short story by Baum. In this story, he has the power to freeze shadows, separating them from their owners, making them their own living entities.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}
* In [[Laurell K. Hamilton]]'s ''[[Merry Gentry|Meredith Gentry]]'' series, a character emerges as the original Jack Frost.
* Jack Frost has appeared as a minor character in the [[Rupert Bear]] stories.
* In the ''[[Rainbow Magic]]'' books by Daisy Meadows, Jack Frost is an antagonist who causes trouble in Fairyland. He is accompanied by pesky goblins who steal the fairies' important objects, and try to sabotage them.
* Jack Frost also appears in "[[First Death in Nova Scotia]]", a poem by [[Elizabeth Bishop]].
* In the novel ''[[Hogfather]]'' by [[Terry Pratchett]], Jack grows tired of "fern patterns" and paints more elaborate pictures on windows.
* Jack Frost appears in ''[[Christopher Golden#The Veil|The Veil]]'' trilogy of novels by [[Christopher Golden]].
* The Man Jack, an enigmatic assassin, calls himself Jack Frost in ''[[The Graveyard Book]]'' by [[Neil Gaiman]].
* ''[[The Stranger (Van Allsburg book)|The Stranger]]'', a picture book by [[Chris Van Allsburg]], stars Jack Frost as a lonely stranger with [[amnesia]].
*In Amy Wilson's ''The Lost Frost Girl'', Jack Frost’s daughter Owl discovers powers she’s inherited from Jack and ventures into the world of the [[Fairy|fae]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wilson|first=Amy|title=The Lost Frost Girl|publisher=Katherine Tegen Books|year=2017|isbn=978-0062671486|location=New York, NY|pages=}}</ref>


===Comics===
* [[Cecily Pike]] wrote a children's nursery-song describing Jack Frost as a "gay little sprite" and beginning with the words "Look out! Look out! Jack Frost is about! He's after your fingers and toes!"
* Jack Frost appears in Windsor McCay's comic strip ''[[Little Nemo|Little Nemo in Slumberland]]'', first being mentioned in a strip published in 1906 and then appearing in another strip published the subsequent year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jack Frost as depicted in "''Little Nemo in Slumberland''" |url=https://www.comicstriplibrary.org/display/303 |website=The Comic Strip Library}}</ref>
* [[Laurell K. Hamilton]]'s ''[[Meredith Gentry]]'' series has a character who within the context of the book emerges as the original Jack Frost.
* [[John T. McCutcheon]]'s painting of "Jack Frost" first appeared in the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' front page on September 24, 1922. Jack is depicted painting individual leaves, and lamenting that people will admire his work and then rake the leaves into piles and burn them.
* [[Neil Gaiman]]'s '[[The Graveyard Book]]' features Jack Frost as a secondary character.
* Jack Frost appears as a superhero in works published by [[Timely Comics]] ({{As of|2008|alt=now}} [[Marvel Comics]]) in the 1940s. A man covered in ice, he could project ice and cold.
* In comic books, [[Jack Frost (Marvel Comics)#Jack Frost (Golden Age)|Jack Frost]] appears as a superhero in works published by [[Timely Comics]] ({{As of|2008|alt=now}} [[Marvel Comics]]) in the 1940s.
* [[Marvel Comics]] had a second Jack Frost, the first alias of the original [[Blizzard (Marvel Comics)|Blizzard]].
* Jack Frost forms the alter-ego of [[Dane McGowan (comics)|Dane McGowan]] in the comic book series ''[[The Invisibles]]'', written by [[Grant Morrison]].
* Jack Frost appears as a minor character in the books ''[[Reaper Man]]'' and ''[[Hogfather]]'' by [[Terry Pratchett]].
* [[Jack Frost (Vertigo)|Jack Frost]] is the alias of Dane McGowan one of the main characters from the 1990s Vertigo series ''[[The Invisibles]]''.
* In ''[[Jack of Fables]]'' (a ''[[Fables (comics)|Fables]]'' spinoff) the titular character became Jack Frost for a period of time. A second Jack Frost ("Jack too, or Jack two") appears as the son of Jack Horner and The Snow Queen.
* Jack Frost appears as a major character in Ed McCray's novel ''Jill Chill and the Baron of Glacier Mountain''<ref>[http://www.edmccray.com Welcome to www.EdMcCray.com - Official Website of Ed McCray and Jill Chill<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
* In [[DC Comics]], Jack Frost is a descendant of the [[frost giants]], the personification of winter, and former lover of the Asgardian hero [[Sigurd|Siegfried]].<ref>''DC's Legion of Bloom'' #1 (March 21, 2023)</ref>
* Jack Frost appears as a major character in ''The Veil'' trilogy of novels by [[Christopher Golden]].
* Jack Frost appears as a mischievous character in a few panels of [[DC Comics|National Comics]]' ''[[Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen]]'' #33 (December, 1958).
* In ''[[Jack of Fables]]'' the titular character became Jack Frost for a period of time.


=== Films ===
===Films===
* ''[[Jack Frost (1964 film)|Jack Frost]]'', a Russian film from 1964, has the title ''Morozko''—the Russian equivalent of Jack Frost.
* In the 1997 film ''[[Jack Frost (1997 film)|Jack Frost]]'', [[Scott MacDonald (actor)|Scott MacDonald]] plays a serial killer turned into a snowman who continues his rampage. This movie spawned a sequel in 2000: ''[[Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman]]''.
* In the 1998 film ''[[Jack Frost (1998 film)|Jack Frost]]'', [[Michael Keaton]] plays a human turned into a snowman by the name of Jack Frost.
* Jack Frost appears as the primary antagonist in ''[[The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause]]'' played by [[Martin Short]].<ref>{{cite news |title='The Santa Clauses' Cast and Character Guide: Who's Joining Tim Allen in This Jolly Revival? |url=https://collider.com/the-santa-clauses-cast-characters-tim-allen/ |work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref>
* Jack Frost appears as the main protagonist of ''[[Rise of the Guardians]]'', loosely based on the series ''Guardians of Childhood'' by [[William Joyce (writer)|William Joyce]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/dreamworks-adapting-upcoming-book-series-the-guardians/|title=DreamWorks Adapting Upcoming Book Series The Guardians|date=3 November 2009 }}</ref> voiced by [[Chris Pine]].


===Radio, animation, and television===
* ''[[Jack Frost (1964 film)|Jack Frost]]'', a Russo-Finnish film from 1964, has the Russian title ''Morozko'' — the Russian equivalent of Jack Frost. Mystery Science Theater 3000, episode #813, [[MSTing | riffed]] it mercilessly.
* The character of Jack Frost appears in three [[United States of America | United States]] films, two of them named simply ''Jack Frost'':
* Jack Frost appears as the title character in [[Ub Iwerks]]'s 1934 animated short ''[[Jack Frost (1934 film)|Jack Frost]]'' in the [[ComiColor Cartoons]] series.
*''Jack Frost'' is the title character (voiced by [[Robert Morse]]) of a [[Rankin/Bass Productions|Rankin/Bass]] [[Jack Frost (1979 film)|TV special]] produced in 1979. The character (voiced by [[Paul Frees]]) also makes an appearance in the Christmas television special ''[[Frosty's Winter Wonderland]]'' and in ''[[Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July]],'' voiced again by Paul Frees.
** In one ''[[Jack Frost (1996 film)|Jack Frost]]'', a serial killer turns into a snowman and continues his rampage. This movie spawned a sequel: ''[[Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman]]'', also starring this version of Jack Frost.
** In the other ''[[Jack Frost (1998 film)|Jack Frost]]'' film, [[Michael Keaton]] plays a human by the name of Jack Frost, who gets killed in a [[car crash|car-crash]] on [[Christmas Eve]]. A year later he returns as a snowman to spend time with his son and make up for all the times his band forced him to miss out on events in his son's life.
* Jack Frost appears as the title character in a 1934 release of [[Ub Iwerks]]'s [[ComiColor Cartoons]].
* [[Martin Short]] plays "Jack Frost" in ''[[The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause]]''.


=== Televised material ===
== See also ==
{{Portal|Children's literature}}
* [[Frau Holle]]
* [[Father Frost (fairy tale)]]
* [[Heikki Lunta]]
* [[Snow Miser]]
* [[Yuki-onna]]
* [[Haida people|KalGa Jaad]]
* [[General Winter]], also known as General Frost
* [[Ded Moroz]]


== References ==
* In ''[[Frosty's Winter Wonderland]]'', Jack Frost, jealous of [[Frosty the Snowman]] because of all the attention he gets from children, tries to render him lifeless by stealing his magic hat, but eventually has a change of heart when chosen as the [[best man]] at Frosty and Crystal's wedding. He reappears in ''[[Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July]]''.
{{Reflist}}
* In ''[[Jack Frost (TV special)|Jack Frost]]'', a Rankin-Bass [[Christmas]] TV special (1979), Jack Frost falls in love with a human girl and seeks to become human. Father Winter grants his wish, but tells him that if he does not have a house, a horse, a bag of gold, and a wife by "the first sign of spring" he will become a sprite again.


==External links==
== In pop culture ==
{{Wiktionary|Jack Frost}}


*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079357 ''Jack Frost'' (1979)] at [[IMDb]]
* Jack Frost appears as an evil ice general in the [[computer role-playing game]] [[AdventureQuest]].
* [[Doom metal]] band [[Saint Vitus]] have a song called "Jack Frost"
* The [[progressive rock]] band [[Jethro Tull (band)| Jethro Tull]] have a Christmas song called ''Jack Frost and the Hooded Crow''
* Jack Frost functions as a trademark character for the Japanese game-developer [[Atlus]] and as a mascot of the [[Megami Tensei]] video-game series. His other variations include Black Frost, King Frost, Raiho ([[Devil Summoner]] version of Jack Frost), and Pyro Jack. Depicted as a stereotypical snowman, he frequently uses his trademark "Hee-ho!" in his speech.
* Jack Frost appears in ''[[The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause]]'' played by [[Martin Short]]. This character, jealous of the attention [[Santa Claus]] ([[Tim Allen]]) receives, wants to assume the position of Santa Claus.
* Jack Frost appears as a snowman in the [[Massively multiplayer online role-playing game| MMORPG]] ''[[Granado Espada]]''.
* Jack Frost features in a number of video games (including ''[[City of Villains]]'' and ''[[Guild Wars]]'') as a player-summonable creature.
* The radio station [[WRHS-FM]] 89.7 in [[Norridge]], [[Illinois]] brands its [[holiday music]] [[radio format| format]] as "Jack Frost".
* Jack Frost is featured as the main villain in this year's Christmas event in [[Runescap]].


{{Christmas}}
== As a pseudonym ==
{{Jack Frost}}

{{Authority control}}
* [[Bob Dylan]] used the name "Jack Frost" as a pseudonym when he produced his 2001 album ''[[Love and Theft]]'', as well as his 2006 record, ''[[Modern Times (Bob Dylan album)|Modern Times]]''.
* Jack Rosenberg (later known as "[[Werner Erhard]]") used the [[nickname]] "Jack Frost", while selling cars in Philadelphia in the 1950s<ref name="pressman">[[Pressman, Steven]], ''[[Outrageous Betrayal]]: The dark journey of Werner Erhard from est to exile''. [[New York]]: [[St. Martin's Press]], 1993, page 6. ISBN 0-312-09296-2</ref>
* [[Jack Frost (musician)| Jack Dempsey]], the guitarist of the [[Seven Witches]], goes by the pseudonym of "Jack Frost". Apart from his work in Seven Witches he has also released two solo albums, many famous (heavy) metal artists joining him.

== See also ==

* [[Father Frost (fairy tale)|Father Frost]], a Russian [[fairy tale | ''skazka'']]

== References ==
{{reflist}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Frost, Jack}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frost, Jack}}
[[Category:Personifications]]
[[Category:Jack Frost| ]]
[[Category:Nordic folklore]]
[[Category:Christmas characters]]
[[Category:Christmas characters]]
[[Category:English folklore]]
[[Category:English legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Germanic legendary creatures]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with ice or cold abilities]]
[[Category:Fictional humanoids]]
[[Category:Fictional snowmen]]
[[Category:Holiday characters]]
[[Category:Holiday characters]]
[[Category:Winter]]
[[Category:Jack tales]]
[[Category:Personifications of weather]]

[[Category:Sprites (folklore)]]
[[de:Väterchen Frost]]
[[Category:Winter in culture]]
[[ja:ジャックフロスト]]
[[Category:Winter traditions]]

Latest revision as of 19:02, 23 December 2024

For other uses, see Jack Frost (disambiguation).
19th-century cartoon depicting Jack Frost as a United States major-general during the American Civil War

Jack Frost is a personification of frost, ice, snow, sleet, winter, and freezing cold. He is a variant of Old Man Winter who is held responsible for frosty weather, nipping the fingers and toes in such weather, coloring the foliage in autumn, and leaving fern-like patterns on cold windows in winter.

Starting in late 19th century literature, more developed characterizations of Jack Frost depict him as a sprite-like character, sometimes appearing as a sinister mischief-maker or as a hero.

Background

[edit]
Frost on a window

Jack Frost is traditionally said to leave the frosty, fern-like patterns on windows on cold winter mornings (window frost or fern frost) and nipping the extremities in cold weather. Over time, window frost has become far less prevalent in the modern world due to the advance of double-glazing, but Jack Frost remains a well-known figure in popular culture. He is sometimes described or depicted with paint brush and bucket coloring the autumnal foliage red, yellow, brown, and orange.[1] According to other customs, he is said to be the husband of Suzy Snowflake.[2]

History

[edit]
Passenger with SNLC cruise train greeting "kung Bore", the Swedish equivalent of Jack Frost, during a stop at the arctic circle in Sweden, 1950s.

Tales of Jack Frost may originate from Anglo-Saxon and Norse winter customs. The Finnish equivalent Pakkasukko has an entire chapter named after him in Kalevala, the Finnish national epic compiled from their ancient oral tradition. In Swedish folklore, the equivalent is Kung Bore (King Bore); the name originating from Swedish 17th century writer Olaus Rudbeck.

There are various other mythological beings who take on a similar role yet have a unique folklore to them. In Russia, he has taken on a different form as Grandfather Frost, and in Germany there is instead a different entity altogether known as Mrs. Holle. The Hindu Kush mountain range is named after stories of a resident giant who would kill (kesh) those who attempted to pass, and has been compared to England's Jack Frost.[3][4]

The earliest reference to Jack Frost in literature[5] is in the book 'Round About Our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments' published in 1732.[6][7]

Jack Frost is mentioned in many songs – such as the wintertime song "The Christmas Song" (aka "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") – and movies. He has been presented as a villain in some media and a hero in others.

[edit]

Literature

[edit]
  • Hannah Flagg Gould's (1789-1865) poem "The Frost" features a mischievous being responsible for the quieter phenomena of winter, beautiful ice paintings on windows but who also got upset at lack of gifts and caused the cold to break and ruin things.[8]
  • In Margaret T. Canby's "Birdie and His Fairy Friends" (1874), there is a short story titled "The Frost Fairies." In this story, Jack Frost is the king of the Winter Spirits and is described as a kind fellow who wants to help children, whereas a king of a neighboring kingdom, King Winter, is cruel to them. The story tells the origins of how Jack Frost began to oversee the coloring of the leaves of the forest in fall.
  • In Charles Sangster's "Little Jack Frost", published in The Aldine, (Vol.7, No.16, 1875) Jack Frost is a playful being who runs around playing pranks and 'nose-biting', coating places with snow before being chased off by Dame Nature for spring.[9]
  • In L. Frank Baum's The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus (1902), Jack Frost is the son of the otherwise unnamed Frost King. He takes pleasure in nipping "scores of noses and ears and toes", but Santa Claus, who likes Jack (who he sees as a "jolly rogue") though he mistrusts him, asks him to spare the children. Jack says he will, if he can resist the temptation. The same Jack appears in "The Runaway Shadows", a short story by Baum. In this story, he has the power to freeze shadows, separating them from their owners, making them their own living entities.[citation needed]
  • In Laurell K. Hamilton's Meredith Gentry series, a character emerges as the original Jack Frost.
  • Jack Frost has appeared as a minor character in the Rupert Bear stories.
  • In the Rainbow Magic books by Daisy Meadows, Jack Frost is an antagonist who causes trouble in Fairyland. He is accompanied by pesky goblins who steal the fairies' important objects, and try to sabotage them.
  • Jack Frost also appears in "First Death in Nova Scotia", a poem by Elizabeth Bishop.
  • In the novel Hogfather by Terry Pratchett, Jack grows tired of "fern patterns" and paints more elaborate pictures on windows.
  • Jack Frost appears in The Veil trilogy of novels by Christopher Golden.
  • The Man Jack, an enigmatic assassin, calls himself Jack Frost in The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
  • The Stranger, a picture book by Chris Van Allsburg, stars Jack Frost as a lonely stranger with amnesia.
  • In Amy Wilson's The Lost Frost Girl, Jack Frost’s daughter Owl discovers powers she’s inherited from Jack and ventures into the world of the fae.[10]

Comics

[edit]
  • Jack Frost appears in Windsor McCay's comic strip Little Nemo in Slumberland, first being mentioned in a strip published in 1906 and then appearing in another strip published the subsequent year.[11]
  • John T. McCutcheon's painting of "Jack Frost" first appeared in the Chicago Tribune front page on September 24, 1922. Jack is depicted painting individual leaves, and lamenting that people will admire his work and then rake the leaves into piles and burn them.
  • In comic books, Jack Frost appears as a superhero in works published by Timely Comics (now Marvel Comics) in the 1940s.
  • Marvel Comics had a second Jack Frost, the first alias of the original Blizzard.
  • Jack Frost is the alias of Dane McGowan one of the main characters from the 1990s Vertigo series The Invisibles.
  • In Jack of Fables (a Fables spinoff) the titular character became Jack Frost for a period of time. A second Jack Frost ("Jack too, or Jack two") appears as the son of Jack Horner and The Snow Queen.
  • In DC Comics, Jack Frost is a descendant of the frost giants, the personification of winter, and former lover of the Asgardian hero Siegfried.[12]

Films

[edit]

Radio, animation, and television

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bartholomew F. Bland, Laura L. Vookles, William H. Gerdts, Laura L. Vookles. (2010) Paintbox Leaves: Autumnal Inspiration from Cole to Wyeth. Hudson River Museum. p. 41. ISBN 0943651301.Tveten, John L. and Gloria Tveten. (2008). Nature at Your Doorstep: A Nature Trails Book. Texas A&M University Press. p. 47. ISBN 1603440364.
  2. ^ "'Coolest place to be:' Jack Frost ready for holiday season". The Cumberland Times-News. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  3. ^ “The Upper Basin of the Kabul River,” C. R. Markham. Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society and Monthly Record of Geography New Monthly Series, Vol. 1, No. 2 (Feb., 1879), pp. 110-121.
  4. ^ Rollo's Museum. Jacob Abbott. Boston, Weeks, Jordan, and Company. 1839, p. 185.
  5. ^ Chamberlain, Rebecca (7 February 2020). "Where did Jack come from? The origin of Jack Frost". RLC words. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  6. ^ Round About Our Coal Fire, or Christmas Entertainments (PDF) (4th ed.). London. 1734. p. 6. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  7. ^ Round about our coal-fire: or, Christmas entertainments. Containing, Christmas gambols, tropes, figures, &c. ... Adorn'd with many curious cuts. 1732. Internet Archive. 1732.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. ^ Griswold, Rufus Wilmot (26 November 2018). "The Female Poets of America: By Rufus Wilmont Griswold". Ardent Media – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Charles Sangster (April 1875). "Little Jack Frost. A Rhyme for Flossie". The Aldine. 7 (16): 308. doi:10.2307/20636992. JSTOR 20636992.
  10. ^ Wilson, Amy (2017). The Lost Frost Girl. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books. ISBN 978-0062671486.
  11. ^ "Jack Frost as depicted in "Little Nemo in Slumberland"". The Comic Strip Library.
  12. ^ DC's Legion of Bloom #1 (March 21, 2023)
  13. ^ "'The Santa Clauses' Cast and Character Guide: Who's Joining Tim Allen in This Jolly Revival?". Collider.
  14. ^ "DreamWorks Adapting Upcoming Book Series The Guardians". 3 November 2009.
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Look up Jack Frost in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
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