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It’s a scene etched into the festive consciousness of billions: a jolly, red-suited man, a sleigh laden with presents, and a team of magical reindeer soaring across the moonlit winter sky. For most of us in Britain, the image of Father Christmas and his flying companions is as integral to the season as mince pies and pantomimes. But have you ever stopped to wonder where these iconic animals came from? They weren’t always part of the Christmas story. In fact, their journey from ancient myth to global superstar is a fascinating tale of poetry, marketing genius, and the enduring power of storytelling.
This isn’t just a story about eight (or nine) specific reindeer. It’s a cultural history that winds its way through Norse mythology, Victorian literature, and 20th-century advertising. It’s a guide to understanding how a creature from the frozen tundra became an emblem of festive magic, beloved by children from Dundee to Devon. We’ll uncover the forgotten pagan roots of the flying sleigh, meet the American academics and copywriters who gave the reindeer their names and personalities, and explore how they became a uniquely British part of the Christmas tradition. So, pour yourself a sherry, settle in, and prepare to meet the real animals and the extraordinary legends behind the world’s most famous sleigh-pulling team.
The Ancient Ancestors: Reindeer in Myth and Folklore
Long before they were associated with Christmas, reindeer held a powerful place in the cultures of Northern Europe. To understand their journey to Santa’s sleigh, we first need to travel back in time, to a world of Norse gods and shamanic traditions where these hardy animals were symbols of survival, nobility, and otherworldly travel.
Reindeer in the Pre-Christian North
For the Sámi people, the indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic regions of Scandinavia and Russia, reindeer weren’t just a source of food, clothing, and tools—they were central to their spiritual world. The reindeer was a psychopomp, a creature believed to guide souls to the afterlife. Shamans, known as noaidi, were thought to transform into reindeer during spiritual journeys, travelling to other realms to communicate with spirits. This deep connection between reindeer and mystical travel is a crucial, though often overlooked, piece of our story.
This ancient reverence wasn’t limited to the Sámi. In Norse mythology, the powerful gods of Asgard were often depicted with animal companions. While Thor had his goats, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr, who pulled his chariot across the sky, it’s the connection to other deities that hints at the reindeer’s future role. Figures like Freyja, the goddess of love and war, rode in a chariot pulled by cats, but the imagery of divine beings traversing the heavens in animal-drawn vehicles was a common and potent one.
Some historians and folklorists have drawn parallels between the Norse god Odin and the figure of Father Christmas. Odin was often depicted leading a great hunt through the midwinter sky, known as the Wild Hunt. He rode a magnificent eight-legged horse named Sleipnir, a creature capable of galloping across the sky, land, and sea. During the winter solstice festival of Yule, children would leave out boots filled with straw and carrots for Sleipnir, hoping Odin would reward their kindness with gifts. Sound familiar? The imagery of a powerful, bearded, gift-giving figure flying through the winter night on a magical steed provides a powerful mythological blueprint for the Santa Claus legend. The eight legs of Sleipnir even echo the original eight reindeer of Christmas lore.
The Symbolism of Horns and Flight
The most striking feature of the reindeer is its antlers, which, unlike the horns of other animals, are grown and shed annually by both males and females. In many ancient cultures, antlers were symbols of the sun, their branching tines representing the rays of light. The shedding and regrowth of these antlers each year became a powerful metaphor for rebirth and renewal—themes that are deeply connected to the winter solstice, the darkest point of the year from which the sun is “reborn.”
The idea of flying reindeer, however, might have a more surprising origin. Some scholars, notably John Rush, an anthropologist from Sierra College, have pointed to the shamanic rituals of Siberian tribes. These shamans would consume the hallucinogenic fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria)—the iconic red-and-white toadstool we often see in fairy tales—to induce spiritual visions. During these trances, they often described sensations of flying and encounters with reindeer spirits.
Furthermore, reindeer themselves are known to eat these mushrooms. The psychoactive compounds are not broken down by their digestive systems and are excreted in their urine. It’s been documented that both shamans and the reindeer would drink the urine to experience the hallucinogenic effects. Could the stories of flying reindeer be a folk memory of these ancient, psychedelic rituals? While it’s a controversial theory, it provides a fascinating glimpse into how the natural world and spiritual beliefs could have intertwined to create the seeds of a legend. These ancient, mystical associations—of spiritual guides, divine chariots, and shamanic flight—created a rich cultural soil in which the Christmas reindeer could eventually take root.
The Birth of the Modern Christmas Reindeer: A Tale of Two Americans
For centuries, the story of Saint Nicholas, and later Father Christmas, involved no animal companions at all. He walked, rode a white horse, or simply appeared magically. The transformation of the gift-bringer into a sleigh-master pulled by a team of reindeer happened remarkably recently, and we owe it almost entirely to the creative vision of two 19th-century Americans.
Clement Clarke Moore and ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’
The single most influential text in the creation of the modern Christmas myth is a 56-line poem first published anonymously in a New York newspaper, the Troy Sentinel, on 23rd December 1823. We know it today as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’, but its original title was ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’. For years, its authorship was debated, but it is now widely attributed to Clement Clarke Moore, a wealthy biblical scholar from New York City.
Moore wrote the poem for his own children, and in doing so, he didn’t just popularise a version of Santa Claus—he practically invented it. Before Moore, St. Nicholas was often depicted as a tall, stern bishop. Moore reimagined him as a “jolly old elf,” with a “little round belly, that shook when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.” This was a warm, friendly, and distinctly non-religious figure, perfect for a new, more family-focused version of Christmas that was emerging in the 19th century.
But Moore’s most revolutionary contribution was giving Santa a mode of transport. Drawing on the folklore of his Dutch-American neighbours and perhaps the older Norse myths, he placed St. Nick in “a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer.” This was the first time reindeer were explicitly linked to Santa Claus in a widely-read publication.
More than that, he gave them names. As he describes Santa’s arrival, he writes:
“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, Dunder and Blixem!'”
These names were wonderfully evocative. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Vixen suggest speed, grace, and a hint of wildness. Comet and Cupid link the reindeer to the heavens and to love, core themes of the festive season. The final two names, however, have a more curious history. “Dunder” and “Blixem” are Dutch words for “Thunder” and “Lightning.” Moore, with his Dutch heritage, was likely paying homage to the folklore of old New York. In later editions of the poem, these names were anglicised to the more familiar Donder (and later Donner) and Blitzen.
Moore’s poem was a sensation. It was reprinted countless times in newspapers, magazines, and books throughout the 19th century, both in America and across the Atlantic. It cemented the image of a sleigh-pulling team of eight reindeer in the public imagination, providing the definitive, foundational myth for all that would follow.
The Visualisation of the Legend: Thomas Nast’s Illustrations
While Moore provided the words, it was a German-American illustrator named Thomas Nast who gave us the definitive pictures. Working for the magazine Harper’s Weekly during the American Civil War, Nast produced a series of Christmas illustrations that became incredibly influential. He was the first to consistently draw Santa as a large, bearded, jolly figure in a red suit (though he sometimes wore other colours).
Crucially, Nast took Moore’s description and brought it to life. His detailed engravings showed Santa’s workshop at the North Pole, a list of naughty and nice children, and, of course, the sleigh being pulled by a team of reindeer. Nast’s drawings, published year after year from the 1860s to the 1880s, standardised the visual iconography of Christmas. They were widely circulated in Britain, and his vision of Santa and his reindeer became the accepted image for generations.
Together, Moore’s poem and Nast’s illustrations formed the bedrock of the modern reindeer myth. They took a collection of vague folk traditions and codified them into a specific, charming, and unforgettable story. But the team wasn’t quite complete. The most famous reindeer of all was yet to be born, not from folklore or poetry, but from the marketing department of a Chicago department store.
The Ninth Reindeer: The Creation of Rudolph
For over a century, Santa’s team numbered eight. They were a collective, a magical unit without a standout star. That all changed in the summer of 1939, with the creation of a character who would become not just the most famous reindeer, but one of the most recognisable figures in Christmas pop culture: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Robert L. May’s Underdog Story
The story of Rudolph begins not at the North Pole, but in the bustling city of Chicago. The Montgomery Ward department store had a tradition of giving away free colouring books to children at Christmas. In 1939, they decided it would be cheaper to create their own book in-house rather than buying them from an external supplier. The task fell to Robert L. May, a 34-year-old copywriter in the company’s advertising department.
May was a slight, unassuming man who felt like an outsider himself. As a child, he had been shy and awkward, and he was often bullied. As he began to work on the story, his personal life was in turmoil. His wife, Evelyn, was battling cancer, and the medical bills were piling up. He wanted to create a character that his four-year-old daughter, Barbara, could look up to—an underdog who triumphs in the end.
He toyed with different animal characters before settling on a reindeer, building on the established lore of Moore’s poem. He wanted his hero to have a distinct feature, something that initially caused him shame but ultimately became his greatest strength. He considered a reindeer with large, floppy ears or one with big, bulging eyes. But as he looked out of his office window on a foggy Chicago day, an idea struck him: a glowing nose that could cut through the winter gloom.
He played with names like Rollo and Reginald before settling on Rudolph. He crafted a story in rhyming couplets, echoing the style of ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas’. It was the classic tale of a misfit. Rudolph is ostracised by his peers because of his bright, shiny nose. They “used to laugh and call him names” and “never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.” But on one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa Claus, struggling to navigate, sees Rudolph’s luminous nose and realises its potential. He asks him, “Rudolph with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?” Rudolph accepts, saves Christmas, and goes down in history as a hero.
May’s bosses at Montgomery Ward were initially sceptical. A red nose, they worried, was associated with drunkenness and wasn’t a suitable image for a children’s story. But May persevered. He commissioned a friend in the art department, Denver Gillen, to create illustrations of a cute, endearing reindeer. When they presented the finished story and artwork, the executives were won over.
The book was an enormous success. In its first year of publication, Montgomery Ward gave away 2.4 million copies. Despite the outbreak of World War II, which temporarily halted its publication, the story’s popularity endured.
From Booklet to Global Phenomenon
The story of Rudolph might have remained a charming piece of corporate marketing history if not for two crucial developments. Firstly, in an act of extraordinary corporate generosity, the president of Montgomery Ward, Sewell Avery, gave Robert L. May the copyright to the Rudolph story in 1947. This was life-changing for May, who was still struggling with debt after his wife’s death.
Secondly, May’s brother-in-law, a songwriter named Johnny Marks, saw the story’s potential as a song. Marks composed the music and lyrics, simplifying the story into the now-famous song. He offered it to stars like Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, who all turned it down. Finally, the singing cowboy Gene Autry was persuaded by his wife to record it. Autry’s version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” released in 1949, became a colossal hit. It sold two million copies in its first year and would go on to become one of the best-selling songs of all time, second only to “White Christmas.”
The song propelled Rudolph to international stardom. It was followed in 1964 by the beloved stop-motion animated television special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions. This special, which has been broadcast every year since its debut, fleshed out the story, introducing new characters like Hermey the Elf (who wants to be a dentist), the prospector Yukon Cornelius, and the Abominable Snow Monster. It cemented Rudolph’s place as a central character in the Christmas canon, not just in America but around the world, including here in the UK where it remains a festive television staple.
Rudolph’s story is a powerful modern fable. It’s a story about embracing what makes you different, about finding strength in perceived weaknesses, and about the importance of kindness and acceptance. It’s a message that resonates as strongly today as it did in 1939, ensuring that the ninth reindeer, the latecomer to the team, remains the most famous of them all.
The Reindeer in Britain: An Adopted Tradition
While the origins of Santa’s reindeer are firmly American, the tradition was enthusiastically adopted in Britain, where it merged with our own rich history of festive folklore. The story of how the reindeer flew across the pond and into the hearts of the British public is a tale of shared culture, media, and the unique evolution of the British Father Christmas.
Father Christmas and His Animal Companions
The traditional British figure of Father Christmas is older and distinct from the American Santa Claus. He originated in the 17th century not as a gift-bringer for children, but as a personification of Christmas feasting and merriment for adults. He was typically depicted as a large man in a green or brown fur-lined robe, crowned with holly. He had no sleigh and no reindeer. His role was to encourage people to eat, drink, and be merry.
During the Victorian era, as Christmas became more child-centric, the British Father Christmas began to merge with the Dutch-American Santa Claus. The poems of Clement Clarke Moore and the illustrations of Thomas Nast were published in British magazines, and the public became enchanted with this new version of the character. The red suit, the North Pole workshop, and, crucially, the sleigh and reindeer were gradually absorbed into the British tradition.
By the late 19th century, Father Christmas was commonly depicted with his new animal companions. However, he retained a distinctly British character. He was perhaps a little more stately and less “elfin” than his American counterpart. He might arrive on a donkey or on foot in some illustrations, but increasingly, the sleigh and reindeer became the standard.
The Cairngorms Reindeer Herd: A Touch of Local Magic
For most of the 20th century, reindeer remained creatures of pure myth for the British public. They were animals you read about in stories or saw in pictures, but not ones you could see in the flesh. That changed in 1952, thanks to a Swedish Sámi man named Mikel Utsi.
Utsi was visiting Scotland and was struck by how the landscape of the Cairngorm Mountains resembled the reindeer pastures of his native Lapland. He noted that the vegetation, including lichens and mosses, was perfect for supporting a reindeer population. Reindeer had once been native to Britain, but they were hunted to extinction around 800 years ago. Utsi believed he could successfully reintroduce them.
He started with a few reindeer from Sweden, and the herd slowly began to grow. Today, the Cairngorms Reindeer Herd is the only free-ranging herd of reindeer in Britain, numbering around 150 animals. They have become a popular tourist attraction, allowing thousands of people each year to have a real-life encounter with these magical creatures.
The presence of the Cairngorms herd has added a unique British dimension to the reindeer legend. It grounds the myth in a real, tangible place. For many British children, the knowledge that a herd of “real” reindeer lives in the Scottish Highlands adds a layer of authenticity to the story of Father Christmas. Many of the Cairngorms reindeer are used in Christmas parades and events across the country, making the connection between the local herd and the legendary sleigh team even more direct.
Reindeer in British Popular Culture
The American-born reindeer myth has become thoroughly embedded in British Christmas culture. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is a staple of school nativity plays and Christmas carol concerts. Festive films featuring the reindeer, from the classic Santa Claus: The Movie (1985), which was filmed at Pinewood Studios, to modern hits like Arthur Christmas (2011), are watched by millions every year.
Retailers and advertisers have also played a huge role. From Coca-Cola’s iconic Christmas trucks to the festive adverts of major supermarkets, images of Santa’s sleigh and reindeer are ubiquitous from November onwards. They have become a universal symbol of the magic and anticipation of the season.
The journey of the reindeer to Britain is a perfect example of cultural exchange. We took an American invention, blended it with our own traditions, and even added a unique local touch with the Cairngorms herd. The result is a festive tradition that feels both globally recognised and uniquely our own.
Meet the Team: A Guide to the Famous Eight (and One)
While Rudolph often steals the spotlight, the original eight reindeer from Clement C. Moore’s poem each have their own implied personalities and roles. Over the years, storytellers and artists have fleshed out these characters, creating a dynamic team of individuals. Let’s take a closer look at the crew that makes the magic happen.
The Original Eight: Santa’s Core Team
Moore’s names weren’t chosen at random. They suggest a range of characteristics that would be essential for a team undertaking such a monumental annual journey.
- Dasher: Often considered the leader or pace-setter of the group (before Rudolph’s arrival). The name implies great speed and eagerness. In many depictions, Dasher is portrayed as confident and perhaps a little bit of a show-off, always wanting to be the fastest.
- Dancer: This reindeer embodies grace and agility. Dancer is the one who can navigate tight corners and land softly on steep rooftops. The name suggests a light-footed, elegant, and perhaps more artistic temperament.
- Prancer: Similar to Dancer, Prancer is full of life and spirit. The name evokes a sense of prancing or strutting, suggesting a proud and energetic character. Prancer is often depicted as playful and full of festive cheer.
- Vixen: This is one of the most intriguing names. A vixen is a female fox, a creature known for being cunning, quick-witted, and sometimes a little mischievous. Vixen is often portrayed as a clever and resourceful member of the team, perhaps with a sly sense of humour. The name also confirms that Santa’s team isn’t an all-male affair.
- Comet: Named after the celestial bodies that streak across the night sky, Comet represents speed and a connection to the cosmos. This reindeer is often seen as a dreamer, with its head in the stars, but also incredibly fast and powerful, able to cross vast distances in the blink of an eye.
- Cupid: Named after the Roman god of love, Cupid brings the heart to the team. This reindeer symbolises the love, kindness, and goodwill of the Christmas season. Cupid is often portrayed as a gentle, affectionate character, ensuring the team works together with harmony and care.
- Donner (originally Dunder/Donder): The name means “Thunder” in German (and Dutch). Donner is a powerhouse, representing strength and endurance. This is the reindeer that provides the raw muscle to pull the sleigh through heavy snow and strong winds. Donner is often depicted as strong, stoic, and dependable.
- Blitzen (originally Blixem): Meaning “Lightning” in German (and Dutch), Blitzen is the counterpart to Donner. While Donner is the thunderous strength, Blitzen is the electrifying speed. This reindeer is incredibly fast and full of energy, bringing a crackle of excitement to the team.
It’s important to note that the gender of the original eight is a topic of some debate among festive enthusiasts. While Vixen is explicitly female, and Cupid is named after a male god, the others are ambiguous. However, scientists have pointed out that male reindeer shed their antlers in early winter, while females keep theirs throughout the season. Since Santa’s reindeer are always depicted with antlers on Christmas Eve, this suggests that most, if not all, of them are female! This adds a wonderful layer to the story, making the world’s most impressive delivery run an operation powered by a team of strong, capable women.
The Star of the Show: Rudolph
As we’ve seen, Rudolph is the underdog hero. His key characteristics are:
- Insecurity turned to Strength: His glowing red nose is initially a source of shame and ridicule.
- Bravery: Despite his fears, he steps up when Santa needs him.
- Leadership: He takes the lead position, guiding the sleigh through the fog.
- A Symbol of Hope: His story is a powerful reminder that our unique qualities, even those we are insecure about, can become our greatest assets.
Together, the nine reindeer form a perfectly balanced team. They have speed, strength, grace, intelligence, heart, and a guiding light. They are more than just magical animals; they are a cast of characters that have captured the imagination of children and adults for generations, turning a simple mode of transport into one of the most enduring symbols of Christmas.
The Enduring Legacy: Why Reindeer Still Fly
From pagan myths to a copywriter’s tale, the story of Santa’s reindeer is a remarkable example of how legends evolve. They are a patchwork of ancient folklore, 19th-century poetry, and 20th-century marketing, stitched together to create a tradition that feels timeless. But why has this particular story endured so powerfully?
Firstly, the reindeer provide a plausible sense of magic. While we know on a rational level that reindeer can’t fly, they come from a real, remote, and wintry part of the world that feels appropriately mysterious. They are not mythical beasts like dragons or griffins; they are real animals imbued with magical properties. This grounding in reality makes the fantasy more accessible and believable for a child’s imagination.
Secondly, they solve a logistical problem in the Santa story. As the legend grew, people began to wonder how one man could possibly deliver presents to all the world’s children in a single night. A magical, super-fast sleigh pulled by a team of flying reindeer provided the perfect explanation. It added a layer of epic adventure to the tale.
Thirdly, the characters of the reindeer, especially Rudolph, offer powerful moral lessons. They are not just anonymous animals; they are a team with personalities. The story of Rudolph, in particular, teaches timeless lessons about embracing individuality, overcoming adversity, and the triumph of the underdog. It’s a narrative that resonates deeply with our own human experiences of wanting to belong and be valued for who we are.
Finally, the reindeer are simply charming. The image of them soaring across the night sky, bells jingling, is one of pure, unadulterated festive joy. They represent the wonder, the excitement, and the magical possibility of Christmas Eve. They are the engines of Christmas, the force that powers the world’s greatest act of kindness.
From the shamanic traditions of the Arctic tundra to the cosy living rooms of modern Britain, the Christmas reindeer have had an extraordinary journey. They are a testament to the power of a good story, a symbol of hope and wonder that, every December, takes flight once more in the hearts and minds of millions. Long may they fly.
