Snowmen from Mt. Etna

I've been witnessing a funny Sicilian winter pastime. They love to drive up Mt. Etna and play in the snow. Of couse, the colder and rainier it is, the more snow on the upper slopes, generally above 1000 meters. On Sunday, especially, there is a steady stream of cars all morning long going up the mountain. There are several very popular, large restaurants that do a huge business on Sunday.

They dress up in snowsuits and play in the snow! They bring or rent sleds, ski, have snowball fights, and build snowmen. The funniest thing they do, though, is build their snowmen on the HOODS OF THEIR CARS. Then they proudly drive down the mountain with Frosty (or Frostino?) blocking much of their view until he slides (melts) off and splatters on the road. Often I'll be coming home from work and see dozens of former snowmen as new roadkill.

I have not personally taken part in this game, but my houseguests recently did. They drove up about 20 km. to the "big snow," played in the snow, and built the snowman on the hood of the car. They drove carefully and slowly back to Nicolosi with him. When I came home from work, it was in my driveway but still intact. Unlike the others, he had a happy home for a few days until he melted. He was a cute little fellow, too . . . .