Sitting on pillars at the entrance to Central Park's Rumsey Playfield, are two small statues
called Snow Babies. Separated by the
gateway door, these stone figures of
two young children in winter attire and
sitting on sleds look to each other.
What is a Snow Baby? One theory dates
back to 1893 when polar explorer
Admiral Robert Peary was living in
Greenland. The birth of his newborn
daughter Marie was called
Ah-poo-Mic-kaninny, meaning "snowbaby" by the Eskimos, due to her snow-white
skin.
The second theory traces Snow Babies to
late 19th century Germany when "sugar dolls" were a favorite
confectionery decoration.
