In Norse tales, Jack Frost is an elf from Scandinavian legend who was named Jokul Frosti, meaning Icicle Frost by the Norse Vikings. He is renowned for his artistic talents while sneaking through towns late at night painting beautiful frost designs on windows and over the winter leaves and grass. Viking tales speak of not Jokul Frosti, but plain Jokul, a cowardly excuse for a man. Another Norse ice figure was Hrym-Jotun, or Frost Giants, though there does not seem to be any connection with Jack.
Another connection comes from Russian tales. The figure originally was Grandfather Frost, a cruel Santa Claus figure who, instead of giving gifts to nice children, focused on punishing the naughty children.
After some time, Grandfather Frost became known as Father Frost, a much more stereotipic Santa Claus figure. He was said to be an old kind man/spirit in heavy blue robes who gave gifts to good children. Other tales go further to say that Father Frost was wedded to the Spring and fathered with Her a daughter other tales have simply named the Snow Maiden. Some say she helped Father Frost distribute gifts to the well-behaved children. Yet, unrelated, Father Frost was said to forge chains of ice in which to bond solid ground to water, making it one frozen mass.
But what does this Santa figure have to do with Jack Frost? Well, Jack Frost and Santa Claus may well have been one in the same at one time, via Father Frost. And, like all good stories, these, as well as the Norse tales began to travel abroad and into the English-speaking countries. When Vikings traveled to these countries, it was said Jokul, the coward went with them. Other tales say the not-well-known Jokul Frosti, the other character came and became known to the English as Jack Frost.
A few people have suggested that Jokul Frosti was not a big tale and that the English came up with Jack Frost after misinterpretting the dilaect. It is suggested that when the Enlgish saw two separate words, Jokul {Icicle} and Frosti {Frost} close together, they mistook the words for a name, or personified winter being, which was then known as Jack Frost.
When Jokul Frosti and Father Frost came together to form what we know as Jack Frost, they underwent many changes. Jokul was no longer a cowardly tag-along, but a bold, independant soul. He became very playful and brash as well. From Father Frost, Jack Frost became an opposite. He was fair, young and beautiful instead of old. He left behind the long robes and took up a much lighter attire, making it easier to play with the children. Jack Frost also, like Father Frost, had a trade. But, instead of forging heavy chains, Jack Frost displayed his artistic nature in painting. His most famous colors were white for the frost and snow, blue for the winter sky, and grey for the clouds ready to burst with heavy snow. Another feature Jack Frost shares with Father Frost is his love to give to children. He doesn't give lavish gifts, but sees to it that the winds bring the chestnuts, or any nut for that matter, from the trees so that children may gather them to eat.
There is also a tree in the Frost Cemetery where you can gather gifts of a different sort.
UPDATE 10/23/10: Cache has been replaced: It is now a digital camo'd bison on a leaning crepe myrtle about head high on a small knob from a cut off limb-in line with the grave for Maybell Thomas. Thank you pearle for the assistance.
UPDATE 11/30/16: Well, it's still a bison tube, but not so easy to spot.
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