Dear Diary, 

Have you heard of the legend of Yuki-onna? Yuki-onna is this mystical being from Japanese folklore, and get this, she’s like this enchanting snow spirit who’s both breathtakingly beautiful and absolutely chilling. She is unnaturally pale, has long black hair, wears a white kimono and seemingly blends in with the snow. Legend has it, Yuki-onna appears on snowy nights, gliding through the icy landscapes with an otherworldly grace that could rival any runway model. 

But here’s the twist - despite her frosty exterior, she’s got a heart, and she’s not afraid to fall in love. Yup, even snow spirits catch feelings. If she finds you especially good looking, like really-really-ridiculously-Blue-Steel type of good looking, then she will spare you, make you promise to keep your experience a secret and then watch you 24/7 to make sure you don’t spill. Oh, and if you do tell anyone your deepest secret, she instantly kills you. It's romantic in a psychotic kind of way.

And how does she kill you, you asked? Yuki-onna herself is symbolic of the beautiful, but often dangerous winter weather, trapping her victims in sudden snow storms and freezing them to death with her icy breath. This snow queen is one of most popular urban legends in Japan; she even inspired the Pokemon, Froslass, that also chills their prey to death with one icy blow. 

Her story is widely told across different regions of Japan and has a few distinct variations. In some stories she is naked in the snow instead of wearing a white kimono. And in other stories she floats across the snow leaving no footprints. Often, she will be seen holding a child and when a good samaritan tries to rescue the kid, they instantly freeze to death. Kind of a dick move, but she confuses parents who are searching for lost children with this tactic. Poor taste, Yuki-onna.

Move over, Elsa; there’s a new snow queen in town and she's actually pretty evil. 

Until next time, stay out of the cold,

Xoxo,

Maria