Xmas to many people is associated with snow, and snowmen. Some parts of the world, of course, do have regular white Christmases, but to many there is no chance or little chance of snowfall over the holiday season, and especially Christmas Day.

A white Christmas has such a nostalgic appeal; the song "White Christmas" is still played the world over in the approach to Christmas. The first time I heard the song in a store here in tropical Philippines, I just had to laugh.

In England, though, I have experienced a couple of white Christmases, and also missed one by just travelling about 80 miles south west for the Xmas holiday. Snow fell back home, while we went walking in mild sunshine.

Nothing, though, can stop snow and snowmen featuring in Christmas cards, ornaments, decorations and stories. For many years in England one television channel showed "The Snowman", a beautiful cartoon whose accompanying song became a Christmas favourite. Like the Queen's speech, "The Snowman" made it's annual appearance as part of the Christmas Day television festivities.

Here in the Philippines, where I live, the temperature does not drop below about 73F all year, including nights. Yet when it comes to Christmas cards and decorations, snow and snowmen appear regularly. So, if it's Christmas, it's snowman time, whether you have to rely on imagination or have the real thing in your garden.

Snowmen do make for very attractive Christmas ornaments, whether for hanging on the front door, as in the picture above left, for the Christmas tree, or even as a decorative candle holder.

There's something warm and welcoming about the face of snowmen. But then, that's the way we want them, so that's the way we make them.