Schneemann and Sonnenweiberl

Schneemann ([ˈʃneːˌman], "snowman" in German), also known as Schneemandl,^[1] was the official mascot of the 1976 Winter Olympics, which were held in Innsbruck, Austria in February 1976. It was the first official Winter Olympic mascot. There was also a secondary mascot, Sonnenweiberl ("sun woman" in Austrian dialect).^[1][2]

Schneemann and Sonnenweiberl
Mascots of the 1976 Winter Olympics (Innsbruck)
Creator	Walter Pötsch Bill Tobin
Significance	A Tyrolean snowman A sun woman

Schneemann was a Tyrolean snowman created by Walter Pötsch, and represents the Games of Simplicity. It wore a Tyrolean hat which is a typical hat worn in the region of Innsbruck.^[3] The public's opinion of this was somewhat divided, but its financial success was indisputable.^[4] Schneemann was also considered a lucky charm. At the 1964 Games in Innsbruck, the lack of snow remained ingrained in the memory, and the organisers feared a similar scenario for 1976. But the 1976 Winter Games had plenty of snow.^[3]

Sonnenweiberl and Schneemann were married in a ceremony on February 22, 1976, on Innsbruck's Goldenes Dachl.^[5] The two mascots released the 1976 Winter Olympic song "Schneeplattler", which was distributed throughout the German-speaking world.^[6]