AS ANOTHER MAJOR WINTER STORM raged across the country this past weekend through Monday, I wondered why these storms are now being named. And why Linus?
So I turned to the internet.
Apparently The Weather Channel has taken to naming these storms in an effort to better communicate storm information in a cohesive way.
But Linus?
If you’re like me and most Americans, you automatically think Linus, as in the security blanket dragging Peanuts character created by cartoonist Charles Schulz.
You would be wrong.
The Weather Channel is referencing Greek mythology and Apollo’s son, Linus. Some sources say he was killed by dogs as a child. Other sources say Linus, a great musician, was murdered by his father.
The online Mythology Dictionary defines Linus as a “song of lamentation.” That would seem more appropriate given many a winter storm weary American is likely lamenting yet more snow to remove and cause travel difficulties.
Those official explanations aside, Linus, the Peanuts character, seems to be holding this storm as tight as a security blanket.
So I’m going to take that blanket and run with it.
Did you know that Linus is named after Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, native Linus Maurer, a friend of Charles Schulz? The two met while teaching at Art Instruction Schools, Inc. Schulz originally became connected with the school when he took correspondence courses there while a high school senior in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Sleepy Eye’s statue of Linus. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.
Today Sleepy Eye honors Linus via a statue placed on the lawn of Dyckman Library, located along U.S. Highway 14 in this southwestern Minnesota community. I lived in Sleepy Eye for six months in 1980 but was unaware then of the Peanuts comic strip connection.
Linus Maurer, like his friend Charles Schulz, became a successful cartoonist. He also paints and is a humor and puzzle writer.
I couldn’t find much info online regarding ways Sleepy Eye promotes its Peanuts Connection. There’s a brief mention on the community’s tourism website, but nothing on the library’s website that I spotted during a quick perusal. I’m surprised.
But then I’m surprised The Weather Channel would name a winter storm Linus and expect us to think the reference is to a character from Greek mythology.
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FROM THE “A MINNESOTA WINTER DOESN’T LOOK SO BAD” Department:
My son, a student at Tufts University, enjoyed his third snow day in a week on Monday at the campus in Sommerville/Medford, Massachussett. Do colleges make up snow days?
Back “home” in Faribault, Minnesota, we got several inches of snow Saturday into Sunday, nothing compared to the 12 inches plus in the Boston area atop the two feet dropped there last week.
I expect the daughter who is flying to Boston from Wisconsin in March to visit her brother is hoping for more spring-like weather. The trip is about six weeks away. The snow will be gone by then, right?
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Hard to think “snowless” March as the latest advisories have been posted for 2″-3″ more of that white stuff! How quickly our “fun in the sun” time (in TX) has faded to a distant hazy memory and “life” has resumed its normal pace! I’m reminded that “March Madness” usually brings the last rounds of snowfalls…..will we be spared this go-’round?? I sincerely hope so!!!!
I love Linus!! My dad was in the Army (WWII) and served along side Charles Schultz’s brother, so I grew up hearing all about the cartoonist.
Your dad knew Charles Schulz’ brother? Any interesting stories you would like to share? Would love to hear.
Lucky you to have escaped winter for awhile. I wish…
No specific stories, just that both men are/were gentle, soft-spoken and well liked by all who knew them (my dad was the same!).
Just like you, well-liked.
Sweetness…………………
Thank you for the background on Linus. I had no idea.
That’s what I thought. That most people have no idea. And you live in Minnesota.
Someone said Linus passed through and left his blanket behind. I doubt it, the blanket of snow covering our pasture and the surrounding hills is way too clean to belong to a little boy.
Oh, now I get the correlation. That’s good, blanket of snow.
Thanks Audrey for info on weather channel, as I always wondered where they got their storm names from I do think all of us will see more winter weather since groundhog saw his shadow yesterday!
Oh, I know we’ll see lots more winter in Minnesota. Winter here does not end until April, and sometimes even early May. Sigh.
I learn so many new things while reading your blog. Linus was always my favorite Peanuts character.
I think Linus is a favorite of many. How can you not love that adorable boy? We can all relate in some way to all of the Peanuts characters, which is likely the reason for the comic strip’s success.
Yes how many cartoons have been loved by so many generations? The only other cartoon I can think of is Mickey Mouse.
We are pretty much down to bare ground here. I’m okay with that
Looking forward to a Texas getaway with friends at the end of the month. You do what what you need to do in order to get through a Minn. winter. I think naming winter storms for Greek gods is a bit odd, but I don’t watch the weather channel.
A Texas get-away sounds wonderful. Enjoy.
I don’t watch The Weather Channel either. Our TV reception is limited to whatever the rooftop antenna grabs from the sky.
I didn’t realize they were naming storms now. Linus seems as good a name as any, I guess. And yes, Massachusetts is showing your son that Minnesota isn’t alone in having brutal winters. At least he was well-prepared for it, being a good Minnesota boy.
A year of college in Fargo clinched it for him in the prepared for winter department. Oh, how he detested the North Dakota wind raging biting snow across the NDSU campus.
Boston is tame by comparison.
That seems to be the son’s opinion too.
I really do not miss the frozen tundra and the snow. I recently escaped to Florida for a break 🙂 The weather has not been bad here at all – so far about 2 to 3 days of winter. Great Capture – Love Peanuts – Happy Day!
Just came in from shoveling about three inches of new snow. My work-out for the day.
I do not miss shoveling snow either – good work out though.
Yeah, I need to shovel the ends of the driveway and sidewalk today since the snowplow came through again.
Very informative blog on why a storm would be names Linus. I wondered why myself. I thought you were creative tying in the information to Charles Schultz’s friend Linus Maurer. Loved the picture of Linus. Amazing you just happened to have it in your file.:)
As soon as I heard the storm was named Linus, I knew I would be writing this post.
They name the cyclones here too and they used to only have female names but that was considered sexist so now they have male names as well. That’s a lot of snow in Boston xx
Hurricanes here have always been given names. This naming of winter storms by The Weather Channel only recently started.
And, yes, that’s a lot of snow in Boston.