Well, the heavens opened and the snow arrived on Friday night in Greensboro. Stars aligned and conditions were perfect for the snow to stick. By Saturday morning, local accumulation was at 8″ and growing. Of course Greensboro is at a standstill and grocery store shelves throughout North Carolina are depleted of bread and milk. 

The above photo features the Moravian star, a popular scene in the Piedmont area. Moravians arrived in North Carolina in the mid-1700’s when they were exiled from Europe.*  They bought 99,000 acres in neighboring Forsyth County where the Moravian Village, Old Salem, is thriving today. As a result of Moravian immigration to the area, the iconic Moravian star dots the local landscape. The Moravian star is an illuminated decoration, originating in the 1830’s as the result of a geometry lesson. It is popular during the Christmas season and, since Friday was Epiphany, the star hasn’t overstayed its welcome by much. Besides, according to the Christian calendar, the season is not over until Candlemas (or Candelaria) on the Second of February. The illuminated star looks especially beautiful against the backdrop of snow, serving as a beacon of light… as long as there is electricity!

* reference and more information, here.