Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. By happenstance I found myself in New York City watching the 88th Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Snow, the fascinating element that expresses itself in many patterns, played a big part in the culmination of this day of giving thanks.

In the first instance, Winter Storm Cato meant changing my plans on the East coast of the US. I was one of the fortunate ones as I was able to avoid most of the storm impact. The travel of tens of millions of others was affected in a more dramatic way  by the snow that came with the storm. Hundreds of flights were cancelled and thousands delayed. Tens of thousands of people had no power. No wonder the elements get a bad wrap at times!

Snowfalls associated with Winter Storm Cato, November 26, 2014.

The snow started falling lightly during the latter part of the Thanksgiving Parade. Perhaps it was the influence of the Skylanders character Eruptor that had kept it at bay until then? He is known as a lava monster, is “born to burn” and was represented by a very large balloon in the parade. This is only the third time a character from a video game has been included in the Macy’s parade. Given the popularity of the games you can understand why.

Eruptor, a lava monster from the Skylander video game, at the 2014 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, NYC

By late this morning the snow started falling more heavily. I had the privilege of being able to watch it from a warm vantage point on the 25th floor of a New York City building. The snow flakes fell at different speeds and angles, depending on the wind currents, which varied around the different buildings. Some flakes blew upwards and downwards, others spun around individually or as flurries. Each journey from sky to earth was different and mesmerising.

Being able to watch the snow dancing and playing from the 25th floor in NYC was a delight

While I was watching the snowflakes I tried to imagine the different patterns they expressed. As referred to in my post on Dr Emoto and the hidden messages in water, each snowflake is slightly different and each has an intricate pattern. When they reach the ground, the accumulated snow can bring both disruption (requiring snow ploughs and spades) and joy (skiing and snow ball fights!).

Illustrations of different snow crystals on the front cover of Bentley and Humphreys (1962; first published in 1931).

There are many gifts to give thanks for today and each day: the way the elements such as the snow express themselves; the way they provide the food and drink that keeps us alive – an important part of the origin of Thanksgiving; and the awe and wonder they generate.