We’re wrapping up our theme week on Christmas Firsts today. Before the 19th century, Santa had no reindeer! That all changed with the publication of Clement C. Moore’s 1823 poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas, also known as Twas the Night Before Christmas. The poem was the first time Santa’s reindeer were mentioned and given names. It’s largely credited for some of the conceptions of Santa, as Americans had varied beliefs about Saint Nicholas and other Christmas visitors before the poem was published. In the poem, Donner and Blitzen were originally named Dunder and Blixem, from the Dutch meaning “thunder” and “lightning”. Rudolph didn’t become part of the pack until 1939, with the popularity of Robert L. May’s storybook Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the ensuing Gene Autry song.
It’s unclear why Moore chose reindeer, but by the 19th century it was well-known that reindeer were semi-domesticated in the Arctic, with people riding on them like horses and using them to pull sleighs, just like Santa. They’re an important source of food, clothing, and shelter for Arctic peoples, and are still herded and hunted today.
You might be surprised to learn that all of Santa’s reindeer are female! Male reindeer shed their antlers in the beginning of December, at the end of mating season. Females keep theirs all year long. It turns out a reindeer’s biology makes them well suited for the job of pulling Santa’s sleigh every Christmas Eve. They’re the only mammals that can see ultraviolet light, and because there’s so little daylight in Arctic during the winter, reindeer’s eyes have adapted to see as much as possible in the dark. Reindeer also have incredible stamina, with some populations migrating up to 3100 miles each year. Their hooves also adapt to the season. In the winter months, their foot pads shrink and tighten, exposing the rim of the hoof. This helps them cut into the ice and snow to keep from slipping.
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