/* Define the number of snowflakes to be used in the animation */
	const SNOWFLAKES = 15;

	function init() {
		
		/* Fill the empty container with freshly driven snow */
		var first = true;
		for (var i = 0; i < SNOWFLAKES; i++) {
			document.body.appendChild(createASnowflake(first));
			first = false;
		}
	}

	/*
		Receives the lowest and highest values of a range and
		returns a random integer that falls within that range.
	*/
	function randomInteger(low, high) {
		return low + Math.floor(Math.random() * (high - low));
	}

	/*
	   Receives the lowest and highest values of a range and
	   returns a random float that falls within that range.
	*/
	function randomFloat(low, high) {
		return low + Math.random() * (high - low);
	}

	function randomItem(items) {
		return items[randomInteger(0, items.length - 1)]
	}

	/* Returns a duration value for the falling animation.*/
	function durationValue(value) {
		return value + 's';
	}

	function createASnowflake(is_first) {
		var flakes = ['2746', '2745', '2744', '2733'];
		var superFlakes = ['2746', '2745', '2744', 'fc7', '274b', '2749', '2747', '2746', '273c', '273b', '2734', '2733', '2732', '2731', '2725'];
		var sizes = ['tiny', 'tiny', 'tiny', 'small', 'small', 'small', 'small', 'medium', 'medium', 'medium', 'medium', 'medium', 'medium', 'large', 'massive'];

		/* Start by creating a wrapper div, and an empty span  */
		var snowflakeElement = document.createElement('div');
		snowflakeElement.className = 'snowflake ' + randomItem(sizes);

		var snowflake = document.createElement('span');
		snowflake.innerHTML = '&#x' + randomItem(flakes) + ';';

		snowflakeElement.appendChild(snowflake);

		/* Randomly choose a spin animation */
		var spinAnimationName = (Math.random() < 0.5) ? 'clockwiseSpin' : 'counterclockwiseSpin';

		 /* Randomly choose a side to anchor to, keeps the middle more dense and fits liquid layout */
		 var anchorSide = (Math.random() < 0.5) ? 'left' : 'right';

		/* Figure out a random duration for the fade and drop animations */
		var fadeAndDropDuration = durationValue(randomFloat(5, 11));

		/* Figure out another random duration for the spin animation */
		var spinDuration = durationValue(randomFloat(4, 8));

		// how long to wait before the flakes arrive
		var flakeDelay = is_first ? 0 : durationValue(randomFloat(0, 10));

		snowflakeElement.style.webkitAnimationName = 'fade, drop';
		snowflakeElement.style.webkitAnimationDuration = fadeAndDropDuration + ', ' + fadeAndDropDuration;
		snowflakeElement.style.webkitAnimationDelay = flakeDelay;

		/* Position the snowflake at a random location along the screen, anchored to either the left or the right*/
		snowflakeElement.style[anchorSide] = randomInteger(0, 60) + '%';

		snowflake.style.webkitAnimationName = spinAnimationName;
		snowflake.style.webkitAnimationDuration = spinDuration;


		/* Return this snowflake element so it can be added to the document */
		return snowflakeElement;
	}



	window.onload = init;