Antonio FatenYou must know the name Jack Frost, right? But, do any of us know anything more about this mysterious character? For a lot of people, Jack Frost is more of an enigma whose origins are obscure throughout history. So, why don’t we dive into this obscure mythical figure?
The Meaning Behind the Name
It is important to note that Jack Frost’s numerous origins don’t have concrete conclusions or facts to back them up, so take every story with a “grain of snow.” Starting with the who and what is how we’ll familiarize ourselves with Jack Frost. The mythical character is said to have originated in England as either a fairy, elf, sprite, or spirit and acts as the personification of winter. Another possible origin for Jack stems from the realm of Norse mythology, where he was claimed to be an Ice Giant named “Jokul Frosti,” which is more of a mistranslation of Norse texts that mashed the two words “Jokul (icicle) and “Frosti (Frost) together to become a separate entity. There are even some cases where Jack was identified as the jolly red giant, Santa Claus.
No, we’re not kidding. Due to Santa being more active during winter and Christmas, people have often identified him with the aforementioned mythical figure. This may be due to the common traits between Jack and another winter figure from Slavic folklore, Ded Moroz the King of Frost, an elderly man dressed in fur, with a sled carried by six white horses. If treated well, Ded Moroz comes off as a kind and gentle sort who will protect travelers from cold blizzards. “So, where does Jack stand in the English protons of his origins,” you may be asking.
Sadly, due to a lack of irrefutable evidence and documentation, we don’t know. The possible English origins of his tale may date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. Sometime around the 1500s, the name “Jack” was used as slang for someone who’s usually funny or clever. Given Frost’s mischievous nature, the name stuck to him. An added note is that every winter, it’s said that Jack would subtly freeze over the windows of a home and draw shapes on the frosts.
From Legend to Stardom
As you can see, the origins of Jack Frost are convoluted, so much so that numerous studios have come up with their own interpretations of the mythical character. But one film may have captured the pure essence of Jack Frost’s character and origins. We’re talking about the 2012 Dreamworks 3D animated film Rise of the Guardians. The include George Shrinks, Santa Calls, A Day with Wilbur Robinson, and the beloved book series Rolie Polie Olie. In the book and film, Jack plays a major role in the events of both adaptations.
In the book series, before becoming Jack Frost, he was originally called “Nightlight,” the right-hand-man, and bodyguard of Mim, the Man in the Moon. He appeared in every book as “Nightlight,” only becoming “Jack Frost” in the final book of the series. In the Dreamworks adaptation, Jack was a spirit who was chosen by Mim to become a Guardian alongside other mythical figures (ie. Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny) to protect the hopes and dreams of children from the influences of the main villain Pitch Black, the Boogyman. Even though he’s chosen among their ranks, his personality is that of a mischievous, lazy, yet fun soul who only wants to bring happiness to children’s lives.
Immortalized in Memory
After the film’s release, Dreamwork’s adaptation of the character has become the definitive portrayal of the mythical figure of legend, so much so that people often pair him with Elsa from Disney’s Frozen. So, this is Jack Frost based on the little scants of information we have on him. But as winter’s right around the corner, you can be sure that Jack will garner your attention with the coming of snow this holiday season. If you do manage to see him out and about, show him that you care and have fun in the snow. Just be sure to wear gloves, the snow does give off the cold shoulders.
Read More From The Able Show Contributors.
https://theableshow.com/who-is-jack-frost/
Works Cited
https://riseoftheguardians.fandom.com/wiki/The_Guardians_of_Childhood
https://riseoftheguardians.fandom.com/wiki/Jack_Frost
https://riseoftheguardians.fandom.com/wiki/William_Joyce
https://www.deviantart.com/whisperthewolfie/journal/The-Origins-of-Jack-Frost-the-Legend-721288725