Ever wonder why snow globes are so magical? I have always had a fixation on them. As a little boy, I can remember following along on my mama’s coattails at the local TWL, or as we called it “the dollar store.” When those glass globes filled with snow made it to the holiday windows and shelves, I knew it was a sign that Santa wasn’t far away.
Ten years ago I was given my first Christopher Radko snow globe and fell instantly in love with it and the giver. Through the years, I have collected snow globes from all over, from New York City to as far away as London, thanks to a few friends. When I look at the snow globes, each one takes me back to a time and place when I was filled with joy. The Radio City Rockettes doing high kicks, Santa Claus sipping on an old-fashioned bottle of Coca-Cola, and even a Nutcracker surrounded by glitter are some of my favorite globes.
The ones representing cities and landmarks are among the best to me — the French Quarter, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and, of course, the Big Apple are some of the ones I love to turn upside-down, flip right-side-up, and watch come alive with snow. Perhaps it’s silly, but one holiday I was driving around town when it began to snow, and as the snowflakes whirled through the air and onto the windshield of our car, I pretended for a moment in time that I was in a snow globe, too.
Christopher Radko has designed the most splendid of all snow globes. I should know, since I have most all of them. There’s the tallest one of all that will not fit into most spaces because it stands almost a foot-and-a-half tall, houses Santa inside an evergreen Christmas tree surrounded by toys, and plays “O Tannenbaum.”
Then, there’s Santa traveling the world in his hot air balloon encircled by the sights and wonders from Hollywood to France, and that one plays “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”
The list goes on with little glass globes filled with white trees, red birds, angels, snowmen and even a photograph of me when I was 5. Snow globes are always out somewhere in our home year-round, and sometimes, when I’m in the mood, I walk by one, shake it gently and wait for the snow to become still again.
It’s now time for quiet moments with family, holiday concerts and eggnog, and I hope you all find yourselves surrounded by the magic of the season, enjoying, if not snow and snow globes, then your favorite Christmas carols and whatever it is that makes the season most special for you. That first snow globe is out on my nightstand beside my bed. Every night before I turn off the lamp, I look down at the little boy lying underneath his family’s tree, and I smile at him.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.