Santa's Deer

Here we are just a few days away from Christmas. Children around the world are anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus and hoping that the night sky is clear for the reindeer to make their flight.  

Reindeer were widespread throughout the Scandinavian and Eastern European countries for thousands of years, and in the 18th century, they were domesticated, used for transportation, pulling sleds and sleighs.

In 1821, William Gilley published a sixteen page booklet by an anonymous author. In the book, reindeer pull Santa’s sleigh for the first time:

Old Santa Claus with much delight

His reindeer drives this frosty night.

O'er chimney tops, and tracks of snow,

To bring his yearly gifts to you.

In 1823, Clement Clarke Moore wrote “A Visit From St. Nicholas”, commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas”.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer,

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!"

The ninth reindeer, the very famous Rudolph, was added in 1949, based on the story by Robert L. May.

Prior to that, however, in the 1920s, when reindeer were introduced in Alaska, businessman Carl Lomen saw the commercial, mass-market possibilities of reindeer meat and fur for the United States. At one point the Lomen Reindeer Co. owned more than a quarter-million reindeer.

In 1926, Lomen worked with Macy's department store to hold a Christmas parade led by Santa, his reindeer, and a sleigh. Eventually, similar parades were held in cities around the country. The eating of reindeer meat never took off in America, and Lomen ended up going out of business. But thanks to him, and those three writers, we have in our heads the picture of those eight reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh. 

Sorry that I couldn't find any pictures of reindeer in my files. These whitetail from my backyard will have to do.