Reindeer

• Home • Santa's Calendar • Photo Album • Santa's List • Questions & Answers • Reindeer • Ode to Santa • Recipes • Click on a picture to see it larger Here are pictures of my nine main reindeer. (I also have some others in training and some of their pictures are down at the bottom of the page.) I took the pictures in the summer of 2008 when it was warmer so you won't see as much snow as there is in December. Reindeer grow to around 7 or 7-1/2 feet long and weigh up to 600 pounds. Their backs can be four feet above the ground and the tips of their antlers can be almost 8 feet high. They run very fast. In fact, a reindeer calf only one day old can already outrun a man. It is their ability to run very fast that helps them fly. Although most reindeer cannot fly, I use a combination of science and magic to help all my reindeer fly. Normally reindeer lose their antlers in the winter and then grow new ones. But my reindeer keep their antlers all winter long and that is part of the secret of how they fly. The antlers work a little like the wings of an airplane, disrupting the air when they run fast and helping them to leave the ground.
Yes, Rudolph does have a red nose. It doesn't look very bright in this picture, but when it gets dark (which it is about six months of the year), it really is very bright. Rudolph even has a special stall in the barn that is lined with black cloth to keep his red nose from keeping everyone awake at night.
Dasher is the fastest reindeer in the herd. That's why he is always out in front. When all the others start slowing down, Dasher keeps us going fast.	Dancer is like a great ballet dancer or an Olympic gymnast. When he lands he plants all four hooves and never slips or slides. That's important when we are trying to land on a small or icy roof.
Prancer just loves to prance around -- kind of a combination dancing, running and jumping. Also kind of crazy. But she enjoys doing it and it is fun to watch her prance around the North Pole in the snow.	One meaning for the word "Vixen" is "a cute little girl" and that's Vixen. She is just darling and cute. She is also the smallest reindeer in the team. Of course, being a reindeer, she is still pretty big and strong.
Comet is named for the comets that race across the sky. She is almost as fast as Dasher and so she is in the middle of the team to help keep our speed up.	Cupid just loves everybody. AND she likes to snuggle. As you can see in the picture, much of the year she has a large, beautiful set of antlers. Can you imagine what happens when you snuggle with a reindeer with a full set of antlers? Those antlers have snagged and ruined many sweaters and coats. But everyone loves her anyway.
Donder and Blitzen's names come from Holland and mean "Thunder" and "Lightening". They are two of the biggest reindeer you've ever seen. And are they very strong. That's why they are always the last two reindeer in the team. When the other reindeer start getting tired, Donder and Blitzen are still going strong and helping us deliver all of the presents on time.

Santa's Other Reindeer Back to Main Page Click on a picture to see it larger Here are pictures of some of my other reindeer who are in training. Because one of the main reindeer could be hurt or become sick and not available on Christmas Eve, I always have a replacement or two ready if needed. Fortunately, that seldom is necessary.
Balderdash is a young reindeer just learning how to fly. He has a long ways to go. As you can see, he already loves to run.	Molly is a little older than Balderdash but still has a lot of growing and training to do.
Buffy, born the summer of 2008, is our newest calf. She was still a little unsteady on her legs when this picture was taken although she will grow up to be very fast.	Lewis is developing into a very good reindeer and could fill in for one of the others if necessary.
Here is a picture of some of the herd grazing on spring wildflowers, one of their favorite things to eat.	Here is a picture of a practice session that includes some of the older, regular reindeer along with some of the younger reindeer.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing these photos of my reindeer. If you have any questions, please click here to send me an email and I'll get back to you with an answer. Your Friend, SANTA

Santa's Other Reindeer