Santa’s Reindeer
We all know Rudolph and his red nose but what about the other reindeer that help to pull Santa’s sleigh and all the many more reindeer that you will see in Lapland?
Santa’s Magical Reindeer
Apart from Santa’s magical reindeer there are many thousands more living in the forests and fells of Lapland who have not yet reached the standard for a joining the special magic team. These are reindeer that were originally wild animals that the Lapps started to domesticate about 1,000 years ago. Reindeer calves are born between April and early May and the weight at birth is 5kg. During summer, the Reindeer owners get together to mark the calves. Each owner has his own mark, which is put inside the reindeer’s ear, and there are over 16,000 different marks in Finland. In the autumn, the mating season starts and the dominant male reindeer gathers a large harem. The total number of reindeer in the wintertime exceeds 200,000 heads and, during the summer, about 150,000 calves are born. Reindeer eat anything that is green including grass and birch tree leaves, as well as cloudberry flowers, berries and mushrooms. In the winter reindeer must find food by digging for lichen under the snow. They also eat moss that grows on trees but in reality most winter nutrition comes from the fat layer on their backs. The Reindeer can run at a speed of 70km per hour but they can not maintain this speed for long. Some compete in reindeer race competitions.
What are their names?
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there. The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap. Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer. whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! “Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!” As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky. So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack. His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow. The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath. He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly! He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself! A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk. And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose! He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”