Fake snow is any product which simulates the appearance and texture of

snow Snow comprises individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere An atmosphere () is a layer of gas or layers of gases that envelop a planet, and is held in place by the gravity of the planetary body. A planet ...

, without being made from frozen

crystalline A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituents (such as atoms, molecules, or ions) are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure, forming a crystal lattice that extends in all directions. In addition, macros ...

water. Fake snow has been made from many materials. In the early 1900s decorative snow was sometimes made from

borax Borax is a salt (chemistry), salt (ionic compound), a hydration (chemistry), hydrated borate of sodium, with chemical formula often written . It is a colorless crystalline solid, that dissolves in water to make a base (chemistry), basic aqueo ...

flakes and even

ammonia Ammonia is an inorganic compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . A stable binary hydride, and the simplest pnictogen hydride, ammonia is a colourless gas with a distinct pungent smell. Biologically, it is a common nitrogeno ...

. Before the dangers of asbestos were known, the substance was sold for

Christmas tree A Christmas tree is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as a spruce, pine or fir, or an artificial tree of similar appearance, associated with the celebration of Christmas. The custom was further developed in early modern G ...

decoration. It was also used to simulate snow in films, including ''The Wizard of Oz'' and ''Citizen Kane''. Fake snow has also been sold in spray cans which could apply the

flocking A flock is a large group of animals, especially birds, sheep, or goats. Flock or flocking also may refer to: Computing * Flock (messaging service), a communication app for teams * Flock (web browser), a discontinued web browser * Flock system ca ...

to windows and indoor displays.

Film and theatre

When snow-like scenery is needed in live theatre, materials have included feathers, cotton, paper, breakfast cereal and potato flakes. To reduce the cleanup problem, many theatres use "snow generators" which create soapy white bubbles which disappear after a short time. A similar process has been used in film studios and backlots; one well-known example is ''

It's a Wonderful Life ''It's a Wonderful Life'' is a 1946 American Christmas fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and booklet '' The Greatest Gift'', which Philip Van Doren Stern self-published in 1943 and is in turn loo ...

''. For outdoor film scenes needing large amounts of fake snow, salt was an inexpensive choice, but damaging to soil and plant life. Gypsum and bleached or painted cereal flakes have often been used; a less noisy alternative is paper, which is shredded and spread by specially-built machines. Newer technology has created biodegradable, eco-friendly fake snow made of food grade ingredients that dissolve in the rain without leaving residue. Cellulose and other types leave harmful residue when they get wet. File:Schneemaschine-fuer-Kunstschnee-transportabel.jpg, Theater snow machine File:Schneemaschine-fuer-Kunstschnee-mit-Rollen.jpg, Theater snow machine on wheels File:Santa Snow.jpg, Aerosol can of artificial snow

References

{{Reflist Special effects Christmas decorations