Snow globes are the enchanting apparatus that help to recreate a beautiful snow scene. A snow globe is a glassy spherical container that contains liquid, usually water, and a few floating white glittering particles resembling snow. The globe generally has a background like a house or a garden. It also contains a few other ornamental things like trees, flowers, or small people in colorful dresses.

Snow globes are based on a very simple principle. They just have to be shaken to activate the particles inside, which fall back into place, looking like snow flakes. Snow globes are very old playmates that can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century as snow shakers, water balls, and water domes. Initially, they contained water and decorative trinkets like china chips, bone fragments, metal flakes, ground rice, or meerschaum. Water has now been replaced with light oils and antifreeze like glycerin or glycol. Snow globes were and still are used as paper weights.

Snow globes can also be made at home. All that is needed is a jar, florist clay, small figurines, white glitter or fake snow, glue, garland plastic greenery, and other decorative items like ribbons or colorful beads. Make sure that the objects being put inside the globe are waterproof. Just glue in the small figurines on the inside of the jar lid using florist clay and glue. Paint the lid inside. Allow it to dry for a few hours before filling the jar with the liquid. You can put in other things like fake snow, colored oil, colorful glitter, small floating objects, seashells, etc, depending on a particular theme. The theme can be anything—Christmas, holiday, birthday, sports, forest, lake, a town, or just about anything. The globe need not be round; it can be egg shaped, bottle shaped, or even pyramid or cubical. You can also use a plastic jar instead of a glass one. Some expensive snow globes also have porcelain or marble bases. There are also ready-to-make snow globe kits available. They just have to be assembled together as per the directions.

These days, there are many different kinds of snow globes available, which may or may not contain the traditional falling snow flakes. These include angels, animals, birds, teddy bears, and other fantasies with golden flakes falling around. Some can also be fitted with pictures of loved ones. There are also virtual snow globes that can be attractive screen savers or desktop items. These can be downloaded from the Internet for free.