diff --git a/snowflakes.js b/snowflakes.js
index 4eff271..492461b 100644
--- a/snowflakes.js
+++ b/snowflakes.js
@@ -83,7 +83,13 @@ function addRandomSnowflakes(count) {
 
 // initialize standard snowflakes
 function initSnowflakes() {
-  const snowflakesContainer = document.querySelector('.snowflakes');
+  const snowflakesContainer = document.querySelector('.snowflakes') || document.createElement("div");
+
+  if (!document.querySelector('.snowflakes')) {
+    snowflakesContainer.className = "snowflakes";
+    snowflakesContainer.setAttribute("aria-hidden", "true");
+    document.body.appendChild(snowflakesContainer);
+  }
 
   // Array of snowflake characters
   const snowflakeSymbols = ['❅', '❆'];