Santa's reindeer

 

While most people think Santa always comes down the chimney bringing gifts, no one really stops to think of his own transport. He rides in a flying magic sleigh pulled by a team of reindeer. Most people that think of the Christmas reindeer always mention only Rudolph the Red nose reindeer, but actually this is quite a new addition accompanied with the famous Gene Autry's 1949 song. Rudolph first appeared in a 1939 book by Robert L May called "The Red-Nosed Reindeer".  He's been well known ever since then and a favourite among children. The other reindeer are less known but are included in art, poems, music, film and stories. 

In 1823 it was written that there were 8 reindeer that pulled Santa's sleigh. This was mentioned in a poem "A Visit from St Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore. It was here in this work that each reindeer was named, Cupid, Comet, Dasher, Dancer, Blixem, Dunder, Prancer and Vixen. The named "Dunder" and "Blitzen" mean thunder and lightning. Earlier this wasn't always how Santa rode his sleigh. He once had only one reindeer, according to an illustrated 1821 book "The Children's Friend" by William B Gilley. The author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was L Frank Baum who also wrote about Santa's reindeer and that was in a 1902 fantasy book called "The Life and Adventure of Santa Claus". There were 10 reindeer in this version, named Glossie, Flossie, Speckless, Reckless, Ready, Steady, Fearless, Peerless, Pacer and Racer. It's set in a land populated by nymphs, fairies, gnomes and others including strange creatures of author's own invention. 

While reindeer have been introduced into the legend of Santa since the 19th century, reindeer have always been associated with Winter season, mainly in folklore and myths. How the connection of Santa having reindeer was made in the early 19th century was by works of fiction and art. It's possible that the notion comes from the fact reindeer have always been the most popular form of transport in severe thick snow, and it was explained that Santa could travel quickly using reindeer instead of horses during freezing winter nights. 

There is also the flying reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh, reminiscent of magical flying beasts, from the 8 legged steed belonging to the chief Norse god Odin and the powerful flying goats that pulled the thunder god Thor's chariot across the sky. In Roman mythology, the ruler of Olympus Jupiter, and his daughter Minerva, rode in quadriga pulled across the sky by winged Pegasi the flying horses. The fact is today reindeer are a staple part of winter beauty and magic.  

She Wolf Night