Whether you have been going to school, sports, or just driving around Hingham, it is likely that you have seen the giant inflatable Snowmen on Middle Street. What started as a joke 3 years ago has sprouted into an annual tradition of placing different inflatable characters across the lawns on Middle Street to bring holiday spirit.
The yearly selection of a new creature or person takes place in late fall with many of the families on Middle Street ordering the same inflatable to be displayed in their yards.
Jillian Sullivan, a Middle Street resident, stated, “This is our third year living on Middle Street and the third year of inflatables. We moved to the block the first year when Santas graced the lawns, then we had to follow it up with nutcrackers and now, the snowmen rolled into town.”
Each year, texts are sent out to the Middle Street group chat with festive ideas. These are then voted upon to choose the winning inflatable for that year.
Kerrin Rowley, another member of the Middle Street community, explained, “Jen Mashburn was the first one to organize it back in 2023. She continues to oversee this event with the support of many families on Middle Street.”
Back in 2023, the massive Santa Clause inflatables popped up unexpectedly, marking the beginning of this festive tradition. It has brought the Middle Street community and the residents of Hingham together to enjoy the holiday characters, leading up to winter break.
The Gredler family, a new addition to Middle Street, highlighted their experience with the tradition, saying, “Being integrated into this longstanding tradition of making spirits bright was a total joy! The holiday season is an important reminder of what matters most in life. The way that our new neighbors come together year after year to bring a little magic to this special community captures the essence of the season so perfectly!”
The jolly, twelve-foot snowmen, as well as the blowups in previous years, embody the true feeling of holiday spirit. The families on Middle Street continue to bring smiles to all who go down Middle Street.
The annual tradition has impacted Hingham’s community for the better, marking the beginning of the holiday season and the long-anticipated break.
Kerrin Rowley mentioned, “The impact and the joy that it has brought the community far exceeded our expectations.”
The smiling snowmen, as well as the Nutcrackers and Santas, have lifted everyone’s spirits invoking pure cheer and happiness within Hingham.
Madeline Thorne, a sophomore at Hingham High School, noted, “Each year since 2023, I have tried to guess what the next inflatable will be. It is such an amazing way to get people excited for the upcoming holidays.
Although many people cannot wait for the new inflatables to pop up each year, it can become a hassle for families on Middle Street. The blow-ups are so large that they can be hard to store for eleven months each year. Also, harsh weather conditions, especially strong winds, can cause inflatables to pop, rip, or even blow away. However, the Sullivan family perfectly spelled out the true meaning behind the snowmen.
They remarked, “Our snowman did not survive the weather last week with high winds. But isn’t that the moral of the story of Frosty the Snowman? They can’t stay forever, but the magic feeling does.”
The tradition symbolizes how the joy and happiness people feel during the holidays last longer than the stress and pressure for everything to work out perfectly. As this holiday season comes close to an end, let’s follow Middle Street’s example and create more traditions to spread joy in our community.
