Reindeer – sorting the myths from the facts
Children love reindeer – a gentle creature which will forever be associated with Christmas. It is little wonder that Rudolph and his friends feature on so many Yuletide present designs. Yellow Moon even has a Sweet Poo Pooing Reindeer which ejects sweets out of its bottom – these make great Christmas stocking fillers if you’re stuck for ideas!
Of course, reindeer can’t really poop confectionary from their rear end but there are lots of fascinating facts about these stunning mammals. So much folklore exists about reindeer – sorting the facts from the truth can be tricky; so here’s a quick guide below.
Myth or fact: Reindeer can be found in the British Isles
Yes, reindeer can be found in the snowy Christmas card-setting of Lapland in Finland. However, there are also large populations of wild reindeer in Norway, Siberia, Greenland, Alaska and Canada. If you didn’t know that reindeer existed in North America then it could be because they are often referred to as caribou.
In Scotland reindeer are just called reindeer – did you know that you can find a domesticated herd numbering over 100 living in the Cairngorms region? Reindeer are in fact no stranger to Celtic shores – it is believed they used to roam around Ireland once upon a time.
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Conclusion: fact
Myth or fact: Rudolph was an original member of the select band of eight reindeer that pulled Santa’s sleigh
Rudolph is the most famous reindeer – he’s the one with the red nose – so of course he has been pulling Santa’s sleigh for as long as humans have been pulling Christmas crackers, right?
Well, no actually. The first mention of Santa’s reindeer came in the 1823 poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement C. Moore – a poem in which Rudolph is nowhere in sight. Instead Santa is being transported by the original eight reindeer – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen.
Rudolph did not appear until 1939 when American writer Robert L. May wrote the children’s story Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – a book which flew off the department store shelves on its release.
The story told the tale of the ninth reindeer, Rudolph, whose glowing red nose makes him a social outcast among the other snooty-nosed reindeers. That is until Santa realised that Rudolph’s luminous appendage makes him the ideal guide during inclement weather when the skies above chimney stacks are thick with snow.
Acceptance by the other reindeer, and a hit song telling his story, soon followed.
Conclusion: myth
Myth or fact: all Santa’s reindeer are females
The British comedy panel show QI put forward this idea. The perception arises from the fact that all Santa’s reindeers are commonly pictured with antlers, yet male reindeer lose their antlers in the winter. As Christmas time falls in the winter could it be safe to assume that Santa’s personal guard of little helpers are all lady reindeer?
Conclusion: Not necessarily a fact – the reindeer might be males which have been castrated. In which case they’d keep their antlers
Myth or fact: Reindeer is an endangered species
It is easy to assume that any beautiful creature found which is prized for its fur and meat and living in a faraway country must automatically be in danger of extinction. Yet, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, reindeer’s conservation status is one of “least concern”.
These hardy creatures can adapt their hooves to the season – taking soft steps when the going is soft and leaving stiletto-sharp footprints where the snow is too icy for humans to walk on.
It is possible that reindeer can see ultra-violet light and they can definitely swim; these magnificent creatures will surely be around to help Santa for a few years yet!
Conclusion: Myth
Myth or fact: Reindeer can only fly on Christmas Eve
This claim was made in the Hollywood Christmas movie Miracle on 34th Street.
Any excited child the day before Christmas will be happy to tell you whether this is true or not.
Conclusion: Definitely fact
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