The traditional names of the 12 reindeers of Santa Claus are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, Rudolph, Olive, Blixen, and Sven. According to the classic 1823 poem “A Visit from St.
Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore, written in verse and widely regarded as the original poem of Santa Claus, only eight of the reindeers are named: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.
The modern addition of three more reindeers—Rudolph, Olive, and Blixen—was made thanks to a 1939 book written by Robert Lewis May and a famous Christmas song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” released in 1949.
Finally, children’s author and illustrator Jan Brett introduced the 12th reindeer, Sven, in her 1988 picture book “The 12 Days of Christmas. ” Since then, all 12 reindeers of Santa Claus have been popularly known by these names.
What is the order of Santa’s reindeer?
The order of Santa’s reindeer is:
1. Rudolph
2. Dasher
3. Dancer
4. Prancer
5. Vixen
6. Comet
7. Cupid
8. Donner
9. Blitzen
Is Rudolph a girl?
No, Rudolph is not a girl. Rudolph is a male reindeer, made famous by the Christmas song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. The song was written by Robert L. May in 1939 and became popular after it was sung by Gene Autry in 1949.
In the song, Rudolph is a young reindeer whose glowing red nose makes him different from all the other reindeer who make fun of him. With the help of Santa, Rudolph ends up leading the reindeer team on a foggy Christmas Eve and helps Santa deliver gifts to all the children around the world.
He has become a beloved figure over the years, leading to several television specials and movies surrounding the character.
Who is Santa’s oldest reindeer?
According to Santa Claus and various folklore stories, Santa’s oldest reindeer is named Donner. Donner is thought to be a mature buck, meaning a male reindeer that has antlers, likely in his late teens or early twenties.
He is the leader of the other reindeer, and directs the other reindeer when they are flying. Santa often describes him as being wise, reliable and having a great work ethic. According to Santa, Donner’s wisdom and years of experience helped him to save Christmas one year after a severe snow storm.
Donner is also the father of Blitzen, another one of Santa’s reindeer.
Are Santa’s reindeers male or female?
The gender of Santa’s reindeer is a bit of a mystery. As it has never been stated outright in any myths or stories about Santa.
It does appear, however, that Santa Claus is typically depicted with either all male or all female reindeer. This could point to the presumption that all of Santa’s reindeer are either male or female, but the exact genders of the reindeers remains unknown.
The names of Santa’s reindeer also do not provide any hint as to their gender. The names: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph are all gender-neutral.
It is plausible that Santa and his elves take great care to keep the genders of the reindeers unknown. This could be to prevent any favoritism between genders in the reindeer competitions mentioned in the poem “The Night Before Christmas”.
In the end, it is not known whether Santa’s reindeers are male or female. It is likely that the exact genders of Santa’s reindeer will remain a mystery for many years to come.
Is Blitzen the first reindeer?
No, Blitzen isn’t the first reindeer. The most well-known reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. St. Nicholas, who’s now known as Santa Clause, is believed to have had eight reindeer originally.
However, other sources name more than eight as part of his team, including often Rudolph. The order in which they appear also varies. The reindeer that is generally referred to as the “first” is Dasher.
It’s possible that this is because the word Dasher appears first in many versions of the poem commonly associated with Santa and his reindeer, “”‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”.
Who is Rudolph’s dad?
Rudolph’s dad is Donner, one of Santa’s reindeer. Donner, whose full name is Dewey, was originally part of a herd of caribou owned by caribou hunter Yukon Cornelius. When Cornelius was having trouble catching the caribou, he asked Santa to help him, and as a result, Santa adopted the herd of caribou as reindeer, including Donner.
Donner became the father of Rudolph, who was born with a red nose and had difficulty fitting in with the other reindeers. Thankfully, Rudolph was ultimately accepted when it was discovered that his glowing nose could be used to light the way in foggy weather, and the herd of reindeer became famous after they helped Santa deliver Christmas presents to all the children.
When was Santa born?
It is widely believed that the legend of Santa Claus originated from the Dutch figure Sinterklaas, who is an amalgamation of several different historical figures. Sinterklaas was initially believed to have been born in Southern Turkey in the 3rd century.
According to some accounts, Sinterklaas was a bishop of Myra (now in Turkey) in the Greek Orthodox Church and was known for his generosity and kindness. He was subsequently venerated as a patron saint by the Roman Catholic Church.
Today’s version of Santa Claus is largely believed to have originated in the United States during the mid-19th century, as a combination of elements from the English figure Father Christmas and St. Nicholas.
He then began to be depicted wearing a red suit, along with the reindeer and the sleigh.
While there is not an official record of Santa’s birth, popular culture has accepted the lore of him being born in the 3rd century. Though the exact date of his birth has never been verified, many Christmas traditions and celebrations continue to be centered around Santa Claus and his generous and magical generosity.
How old are Santa’s reindeer?
Santa’s reindeer have been around for as long as Santa Claus himself so it is impossible to know their exact age. However, according to folklore, Santa’s reindeer are immortal, meaning they don’t age like humans, so they will look the same age forever.
It is said that the reindeer were sent from the North Pole many centuries ago to help out Santa with his sleigh and his gifts. The reindeer are all friends, with their leader being Rudolph, and they live at the North Pole with all of the Elves and Santa Claus.
They use their powerful legs and wings to fly around the world in one night, and deliver presents to all of the good children. The reindeer will always be around as long as Santa Claus and the spirit of Christmas exists.
Are reindeers a real thing?
Yes, reindeers are real! Reindeers, also called caribou in North America, are members of the deer family that can be found in areas of the Arctic tundra and boreal forest, although their range covers areas of North America, Alaska, northern Europe and the northern parts of Russia.
In the wild, reindeer typically have a flat or humped back and range in color from brown to almost completely white. Reindeer have long been part of the lore of people living in areas where they thrive, and they have been hunted for their meat, fur, and antlers for thousands of years.
The reindeer’s unique coat also has adapted to their environment: the upper hairs are hollow and provide insulation to keep the reindeer warm in the cold Arctic climate. They possess specialized hooves for walking on snow and dig for lichens, mosses, and other food beneath the snow.
Reindeer are also the only type of deer in which the females sprout antlers like the males.
Can reindeer actually fly?
No, reindeer cannot actually fly. It is a common misconception that reindeer can fly because of their frequent depiction in various stories and holiday-themed media. However, reindeer, despite their powerful legs and large antlers, lack the necessary physical adaptations to become airborne.
While reindeer can use their hooves to walk on snow and swampland, as well as to push off the ground to give them a little extra power for faster running, there are no known adaptations for flying. Despite this, reindeer are very well adapted for running, having four stomachs, allowing them to eat and digest their food quickly and efficiently to maximize their mobility.
They also have large hooves which act like snow shoes, allowing them to walk on snowy terrain with ease. In many ways, reindeer are arguably built for running and not flying.
Where are reindeers live?
Reindeer are typically found in the Northern Hemisphere, in countries that include Canada, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Russia. They are widespread in Alaska and can be found in some of the southern states in the US.
Reindeer populations tend to be concentrated in Alaska, Fennoscandia, Siberia, and northern Russia, with populations also found in Kazakhstan and the Mongolian mountains. In addition, reindeer are migratory animals, and during the winter months they move south in search of food.
During the spring, they migrate back north, where they settle near coastlines, river deltas, tundra, and mountains. Reindeer also prefer to live near alpine tundra, which encompasses many of the countries they inhabit.
Is Rudolph the reindeer real?
No, Rudolph the Reindeer is not a real animal. Rudolph the Reindeer was created as a character by Robert L. May in 1939 as part of a Christmas-themed coloring book. Rudolph was famously featured in the stop-motion animated Christmas special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, which first aired in 1964.
In this version of Rudolph’s story, he was a reindeer with a glowing red nose who helped Santa save Christmas. The special has been shown every year since and is a favorite of families all over the world.
The character Rudolph has been featured in many different renditions, from movies to TV shows, books, and toys. However, despite being a beloved character, Rudolph is not a real reindeer and only exists in fiction and in our hearts.
How old is Santa Claus?
The age of Santa Claus is a topic that is often debated. Although it is impossible to know the exact age of Santa Claus, it is commonly accepted within popular culture that he is anywhere between 1,700 and 1,750 years old.
This age range is derived from the fact that St. Nicholas was born around 280 AD, and Santa Claus is said to be an evolution of the St. Nicholas myth. This makes Santa Claus over 1,700 years old. Additionally, since Santa Claus is said to be ageless and immortal, it can be concluded that he is likely much older than 1,700 years.
Why Rudolph has a red nose?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is one of the most beloved Christmas figures, and his most distinctive feature is his bright red nose. According to the popular holiday story, Rudolph’s nose began to shine when he was born, and it made him an outcast among the other reindeer who laughed and called him names because of it.
Santa eventually recognized Rudolph’s unique talent and asked him to lead his sleigh, which made Rudolph’s nose even brighter. Little is known about why the reindeer was born with a red nose, although several theories have been proposed.
Some hypothesize that the famous glow was caused by a genetic mutation, while others propose that a parasitic infection could be the culprit, citing the presence of the blood fluke, a parasitic worm, in reindeer in Scandinavia.
Ultimately, however, the exact reason why Rudolph was born with a red nose will remain a festive mystery.
Where did the story of Rudolph come from?
The story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer originated in 1939 as a poem written by Robert L. May for the department store Montgomery Ward. The poem was originally written as a promotion for the store’s holiday season, but over the years it has become an iconic holiday symbol.
The poem was a huge success and after a few years, Montgomery Ward published the poem as a children’s book in 1947.
The book was such a hit that in 1949 Johnny Marks wrote a song based on it and it has been a classic since then. The stop-motion TV special, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” aired in December 1964 and it has been shown every year since then.
The special was created by Rankin/Bass and features the voice of Burl Ives as the narrator along with other classic holiday songs.
Overall, the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer started as a marketing campaign from a department store, Montgomery Ward, turned into a beloved poem by Robert L. May, and then later became a song and stop-motion TV special that are watched by people around the world every year.
Who created Rudolph?
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was created by Robert L. May in 1939. May was a Montgomery Ward department store copywriter and father of four. As a Christmas story for children, May was asked to create a Christmas storybook.
He was inspired by a reindeer his daughter liked and wrote a poem about Rudolph. The poem was put into a small storybook and was given away to shoppers in Montgomery Ward’s stores at Christmas. The character quickly became a success and was later adapted into a song and finally made into a television special.
The story of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” has been told for over 80 years and is still loved by many children and adults alike throughout the world.
How do you make small reindeer?
Making small reindeer can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. You will first want to choose a pattern or templates to provide you with the design you would like to create. Then, select the yarn and stuffing materials that will be used in creating your reindeer.
Before you begin, you will want to familiarize yourself with the different techniques of crocheting or knitting.
Once you have the materials prepared, it is time to begin the reindeer making process. Start by crocheting or knitting a basic shape for the body of the reindeer. You will be able to adjust the size you would like to make it.
Depending on the desired size, add the legs and tail to the body. Using a contrasting color, crochet or knit the facial features and the antlers. Make sure you attach the facial features securely to the head, as well as adding stuffing for the body and legs as needed.
You can continue to embellish your reindeer and make them unique by adding decorations such as beads or buttons, or even felt details. For a finishing touch, you can add a bow or scarf around the reindeer’s neck.
Once your small reindeer has been completed and is ready to be displayed, they will make a great addition to any holiday décor or as a gift to a special someone.