Children
in Yokote, in northern Japan, build little snow caves for this
festival. After putting a straw mat on the floor of the snow hut
(which looks a lot like an igloo) and lighting a hibachi (a charcoal
stove), the snow cave becomes comfortable! The hibachi can be used to
heat soup and tea, and families visit each others' snow caves,
leaving their boots outside. 
Some kids even sleep in their snow
caves!
Isn't
it fun to see all the snow huts lit up?
Snow
is cold but can keep you warm!
A
shelter made of snow or ice can keep you warm. That's because it
blocks cold winds, and it insulates you from cold outside
temperatures. A candle, hibachi, or other source of heat warms the
air inside the snow hut—and the air cannot easily escape to the
outside.
Basically,
the snow acts in the same way that a blanket or sleeping bag acts—it
keeps the warm air in. And the smaller the snow hut, the easier it is
to warm up. Your own body may generate enough heat to warm up a tiny
snow cave!
And
here are instructions for building an igloo. Note that this
design does use blocks of packed snow! The interior layer of
snow melts when it is heated—but then refreezes into ice. And,
according to the article, ice is an excellent insulator!
Also
on this date:
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