Santa Claus' ReindeerSanta Claus' reindeer are a team of reindeer which pull his sleigh and help him deliver Christmas gifts. According to Kris Kringle (Miracle on 34th Street), they only fly on Christmas Eve.
The names of the original eight reindeer are taken from the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, which led to the popularity of reindeer as Christmas symbols. The poem reads in part:
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
Over time, another reindeer has been added: Rudolph, a well-known name due to the popular Christmas song Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
According to the poem, the appearance is a "miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer" and they are "more rapid than eagles". The poem does not describe them, nor their positions in the sleigh-team, but does say they fly.
In some countries, such as Sweden and Finland, Santa's reindeer traditionally do not fly (but they are sometimes depicted flying due to American cultural influence).
Origins
In old European lore, St. Nicholas traveled with a horned creature that would not only bear the load for its master, but also punish naughty children. In many depictions this creature resembled a goat (which varied in form, sometimes being a very demonic looking goat, at other times the Devil, complete with pitchfork and tail). In Austria, this goat/demon creature is still known as Krampus. The transformation of Christmas to the New World (specifically the United States) was one in which numerous customs related to Christmas which had obvious pagan roots and/or involved various forms of debauchery were abandoned (and in some cases made illegal). Other customs were merely changed to something more acceptable to the puritan population. It is believed that the Reindeer as they appeared in the poem A Visit From St. Nicholas were a safer and more benign version of Krampus, the demonic goat which accompanied St. Nick in earlier traditions.
The original eight reindeer are drawn from the 1823 poem A Visit From St. Nicholas.
Rudolph was added following the publication of Robert L. May's Christmas story in 1939
Robbie was added by BBC television in aid of Comic Relief, around 1999.
Reindeer Placement and Descriptions
Dasher - The first reindeer and the right-hand leader of the sleigh before Rudolph was included. He is the speediest reindeer.
Dancer - The second reindeer and the left leader before Rudolph was included. She is the graceful reindeer.
Prancer - The third reindeer and on the right in the second row. He is the most powerful reindeer.
Vixen - The fourth reindeer and on the left-hand side in the second row. She is beautiful, and also powerful like her companion Prancer.
Comet - The fifth reindeer and on the right-hand side in the third row. He brings wonder and happiness to children when Santa flies over everyone's houses.
Cupid - The sixth reindeer and on the left-hand side in the third row. She brings love and joy to children when Santa flies over everyone's houses.
Donner - The seventh reindeer and on the right-hand side in the fourth row. His original name is Donder, meaning "thunder" in German.
Blitzen - The eighth reindeer and on the left-hand side in the fourth row. Though female, she is frequently portrayed as a male in American pop culture. Her original name is Blixem. She is known as the lightning reindeer because the word 'Blitz' is German for lightning.
Rudolph (the red-nosed reindeer)
Rudolph's story was originally written in verse by Robert L. May for the Montgomery Ward chain of department stores in 1939 and published as a book to be given to children in the store at Christmas time.
According to this story, Rudolph was the son of Donner, and was born with a glowing red nose, which made him a social outcast among the other reindeer. However, one Christmas eve it was too foggy for Santa Claus to make his flight around the world. About to cancel, Santa suddenly noticed Rudolph's nose, and decided it could be a makeshift lamp to guide his sleigh. Since then Rudolph has been said to be a permanent member of Santa's team, and leads them on their way.
Rudolph's story is a popular Christmas story that has been retold in numerous forms including a popular song, a television special, and even a feature film.
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