Then there is Santa’s reindeer, then there are Santa’s reindeer. What are their personalities like? Are they naughty? Are they amusing?
Also, Have you ever wondered how many reindeers Santa has?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen are the eight reindeer that make up the basic count. The ninth addition is Rudolph (made famous by the song about his red nose). Olive is the other reindeer.
Donner’s name has been spelled Donder and Dunder, and Blitzen has been spelled Blixem on occasion. Their names are derived from the Dutch terms for thunder and lightning.
In recent years, it has also been noted that all of the reindeer must be females because males lose their antlers over the winter. Any reindeer with antlers left at Christmas is almost certainly a female.
Reindeer’s Names
Santa Claus does not have 12 reindeer pulling his sleigh in any popular version of the story.
Santa is said to have nine reindeer in modern times.
Dasher – Dasher is known for her speed, who comes in helpful when she traverses the length of the world in one night giving gifts to all of the children.
Dancer – Dancer is the jazzy one, as her name implies. She’s that buddy whose absence alters the mood of the gathering. Dancer is the reindeer who urges the other reindeer to enjoy the occasion, even if they aren’t as quick as Dasher.
Prancer – Likes to flaunt her abilities by stepping in a vibrant and flashy manner.
Vixen — In the ensemble, she is the resident performer. Even Mr. and Mrs. Clause can’t have enough of her shows since she enjoys engaging her friends.
Comet – There’s a reason Comet is referred to as the group’s “mother.” She is a compassionate reindeer who is always concerned about the well-being of the group, never prioritizing her own needs.
Cupid – Cupid is mostly about showing love, which is the fundamental goal of the reindeer team. She enjoys the spirit of the season, as well as cooking and decorating.
Donner – Her first name was Dunder, which was a terrible nickname for her. Donner could indicate thunder in Dutch, but nobody knows for sure.
Blitzen – Another crew member with a unique nickname was Blitzen (Blixem: lightning in Dutch). She began pushing herself and trying her limitations before any of Santa’s other reindeer, possibly in keeping with her nickname.
Rudolph – She is the ship’s captain, and without her, the crew would be disorganized.
When Did They First Make an Appearance?
Santa’s animal buddies are first mentioned in an 1821 illustrated children’s poem by an unknown author.
In Clement Clarke Moore’s 1823 poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” often known as “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” the reindeer were given the names we know of today.
When Did Rudolph Become a Part of the Squad?
Only the original eight are mentioned in the poem, and none of them had the “nose so dazzling” that today’s children are familiar with.
A century later, the story “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” written by Robert L May and released by Montgomery Ward in 1939, would welcome Rudolph.
The novel was created as a coloring book for the store to distribute to customers during the holiday season, and 2.4 million copies were distributed in the first year. It’s written in the same metre and tells the same plot as the original. The best-known version is “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
In the following years, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s fame soared, thanks in part to the 1949 song of the same name, which was the US Christmas number one that year.
The stop-motion animated television rendition of The Santa Clause in 1964 solidified Rudolph’s place in the story. It has since been animated in a variety of ways.
What About Oliver?
Olive is Santa’s tenth reindeer. She had a rocky start. “All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call names…” says Rudolph in his song. “Olive, the other reindeer…” was heard by a large number of people. It’s true, to be sure. Olive is the other reindeer in the group.
She did chuckle at Rudolph’s large red nose, but because she thought Rudolph was an incredible asset to Santa’s team, she desired to be part of it. So she began by insulting Rudolph but soon recognized that this was inappropriate behavior for a reindeer. After all, everyone knows that you taunt your pals because you love them.
Rudolph accepted her humble apology, and the two have remained great friends ever since. She enjoys playing hide-and-seek and is extremely skilled at locating the dreaded Abominable Snowman.
Which of the Reindeer Is Santa’s Personal Favorite?
Although it’s hard to choose a favorite because all nine reindeer are required to drive Santa’s sleigh full of goodies, Rudolph is a good competitor to be Santa’s favorite after leading his chariot on that gloomy night.
She was the ninth reindeer to join the squad, and she wasn’t always welcomed by the rest of the reindeer gang. Rudolph was shy at first, but after taking command on that fateful overcast night, she transformed into a natural leader.
She enjoys bringing people together and assisting those who require assistance. Rudolph enjoys traveling, is dedicated to her job, and will be sending Santa’s presents.
Santa Hasn’t Had Any Other Reindeer, Has He?
Countless songs, movies, and TV shows have contributed to the reindeer games by introducing new characters to the sleigh-pulling team over the years.
Lightning the reindeer-in-training appeared on Sesame Street, whereas Vixen was given a husband called Frosty and a daughter named Hollie by Winnie the Pooh.
Rudolph has had a son called Robbie, a younger brother named Rustie, a rival named Scratcher, and a lover named Clarice, among other things.
The original reindeer team is changed by a new bunch of reindeer named Steven, Fluffy, Horace, Chantel, Skippy, Rainbow, Patches, and Montel in South Park’s Christmas special.
Conclusion
Santa Claus has eight or nine reindeer, according to popular belief.
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph are the names of the reindeer.
The poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas) and the song “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” inspired their names.
