Why Reindeer Pull Santa's Sleigh

Let's take a closer look at why and how reindeer have become one of our Christmas symbols. The first time a reindeer officially appeared in connection with Christmas came in 1821 when a poem, "Old Santeclaus with Much Delight," was published in New York in a small paperback book, The Children's Friend: A New-Year's Present, to Little Ones from Five to Twelve. One of the eight illustrations showed a single reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh.

Of course, some of the legends about the forerunners of Santa Claus were set in cold climates where reindeer dwell. The most famous event that solidified the reindeer as part of Christmas, however, came in 1823 when the well-known poem, "A Visit from Saint Nicholas," by Clement C. Moore came out. The poem also became known as " 'Twas the Night Before Christmas." In this poem, eight reindeer pulled the sleigh, and they are given by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder (usually known as Donner), and Blixem (Blitzen).

From there, reindeer became more and more popular, until Gene Autrey released the song, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in 1949, and interest mushroomed. Since then there're been all kinds of movies, T.V. specials, products, artwork, and media showing reindeer for Christmas. They have become one of the Christmas icons.

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