From today’s New York Times:

World Briefing Europe
Spain: White Christmas by Decree

By AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: December 8, 2006

The southern town of Lepe has not had snow for half a century, but it will have a white Christmas this year, by order of the Town Hall. It has brought in two converted cannons to fire fake snow from its balcony into the town square for 15 minutes every night until Jan. 6.