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What do you call those liquid-filled glass things that "snow" when shaken?

25-Dec-1987

Dear Cecil:

I'm sure you've seen those clear plastic glass containers filled with a liquid and tiny flakes of "snow" or some other material. When you turn or shake them, you create a "snowstorm" inside. My question is, what do you call these things? I feel so inadequate when I'm trying to describe that scene in Citizen Kane. --Larry Raymond, Richardson, Texas

Cecil replies:

Get ready for this, Lar. You call them "shake-'em-ups." You were expecting maybe rhombicosidodecahedron?

NO, BUT THEY WEREN'T EXPECTING "SHAKE-'EM-UPS" EITHER.

Dear Cecil:

Re: "shake-'em-ups." I have over 200 of these things, and I can authoritatively say their name is "snowdomes." I call them "snow." No flea marketer would know definitively what a "shake-'em-up" was. --S.G., Cabin John, Maryland

Dear Cecil:

I have subjected countless people to this same question. To this day one friend insists they are called "waterballs." However, based on my extensive data, the correct term is "snowglobes." --H.G., from D.C.

Dear Cecil:

They're called "waterglobes." --Erika M., Santa Barbara, California

Cecil replies:

Great. Till you guys get your act together, I'm sticking with "shake-'em-ups."

MORE NOMINEES

Dear Cecil:

Those shake-ups are called "snowglobes." --Erica, Livonia, Michigan; similarly from SnoMisr and BJECTR, both via AOL

Dear Cecil:

They are called "snow storms"! --hc, via AOL

Cecil replies:

So far "snowglobes" is leading with four votes, with the other four entries (not counting "shake-em-ups") having one apiece. Whatsamatter, nobody wants to nominate "Rosebud"?

IT AIN'T OVER YET

Dear Cecil:

Those snow-filled things are called "snowies," of course. --Arwen79, via AOL

Cecil replies:

AARRRRGGGHHHH!!!

--CECIL ADAMS

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