How To: Make a Snow Lantern

Just because the sun has gone down doesn’t mean you have to, too. Keep playing in the snow by building this lantern to light your way.

• Warm clothes
• Snowballs
• Flashlight or candle
• A dark night

Here’s What You Need

1. Make about 20 grapefruit-sized snowballs. Pack the snow tightly so the snowballs won’t fall apart.
2. Find a flat place to build your lantern. A patio table or front porch works well. You also can use your feet to stamp down a flat place in the snow.
3. Arrange eight or nine snowballs into a circle. Make sure most of the snowballs are touching each other, but leave a small opening between two of the snowballs. This is where you’ll slide in a flashlight or candle when you’re ready to “light” your lantern.
4. Stack another layer of snowballs on top of your first layer. Center each of these snowballs between the two below it. The second layer should form a smaller circle than the first one. Keep adding layers, making sure each new layer is smaller than the layer below it. You’ll soon have a pyramid shape with a single snowball on top.
5. Slide a candle or flashlight into the space you left in the bottom layer. Light the candle or turn on the flashlight and watch your lantern glow!