Santa's Reindeer

Thank you for wanting to learn about my reindeer. They have been carefully chosen over the years to be members of my famous Christmas Eve Team. Each one is wonderful in a way that is near and dear to my heart. Children who have some of the same qualities as my reindeer are sure to make my “Nice List.”

Click on the reindeer to find out about each one.

Rudolph

a Compassionate Reindeer
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Dasher

a Respectful Reindeer
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Dancer

a Curious Reindeer
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Prancer

a Patient Reindeer
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Vixen

a Kind Reindeer
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Comet

a Grateful Reindeer
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Cupid

a Generous Reindeer
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Donner

a Truthful Reindeer
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Blitzen

a Dependable Reindeer
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Blessings children. It makes me so happy that you are visiting my website. I hope it brings you happiness and joy.

You know the names of my most popular reindeer from a poem that Clement Moore wrote for his children in 1823. That was a long time ago. He called it “A Visit from St Nicholas,” although most folks now call it, ”Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

Thank you for wanting to learn about my reindeer. They have been carefully chosen over the years to be members of my famous Christmas Eve Team. Each one is wonderful in a way that is near and dear to my heart. Children who have some of the same qualities as my reindeer are sure to make my “Nice List.” 

You should know that when putting together a team of reindeer, I have to be very careful. Each place in the team has a particular purpose. And each place in the team requires a particular gift. All of my reindeer are talented, but each shines in a different way. So I have to match the shine with the slot. Each pairing has a name and each slot in the pairing has a purpose. The position in the reindeer pairs on my right is called the “Off” position and the one on my left is called the “Near” position. Any reindeer in the wrong place messes up the whole team and there goes my Christmas Eve visit. Luckily, I know reindeer! One of my gifts is reindeer team building. I do it very well.

When calling out to my reindeer, the first names called out are Dasher and Dancer. They are my “Lead Pair” and their job is to do just that. They lead. The others follow. Lead reindeer must be fast and agile, but they must also be confident and obedient. They must be ready to go right or left, up or down, without hesitation whenever I call out or pull on the reins.

I call them out from the front or Lead Pair to the back or Wheeler Pair, starting with the Off slot (on my right) and then the Near slot (on my left). So Dasher is on my right in the lead pair while Dancer is on my left and so on down the line of pairs.

Prancer and Vixen come next and make up the “Swing Pair.” They have to be able to pay attention to the Lead Pair so they can follow immediately no matter what direction they are led to go. This requires paying close attention and a great deal of balance. They cannot be distracted in any way or we would find ourselves trying to go in two different directions at the same time. That never works out well.

My third pair is Comet and Cupid and are known as the “Body Pair.” As you may guess from the name of their place, Comet and Cupid must be both solid and flexible. They must pay attention to the Swing Pair and be ready to follow. But in addition to balance and control, Comet and Cupid must also have the strength to help the last pair do a very important job.

You might think that Donner and Blitzen, as the last pairing, might have the easiest job. I mean, all they have to do is follow the other six reindeer. Right? No! That’s only one thing they need to do. The most important thing they do is to be “Wheelers.” The “Wheel Pair” are the ones responsible for starting and stopping my sleigh. If they fail, we would just drive right off your roof and crash in your yard. What a mess that makes! So Wheelers must be the strongest and most steady of my reindeer. My take offs and landings, roof after roof, have to be done very carefully. But I can always depend on Donner and Blitzen.

Please take a few minutes to Meet My Reindeer. I love each one so very much. Just like I love each of you. I do not have a favorite because each is terrific on their own. It is my hope that you see yourself in one or more of them. And I pray that you will see in the individual gifts of each reindeer some characteristic that you may wish to make your own.

Blessings,

St Nick

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Rudolph

a Compassionate Reindeer

Born in 1939, Rudolph soon became my most famous reindeer. You probably know how badly some of the other reindeer treated him because of his bright red nose. 

I first put Rudolph on the team because of the brightness of his nose. It was so helpful in seeing through the fog. But later, Rudolph earned his place on my team due to the brightness of his heart. His compassion for others fills our hearts with joy. Rudolph is the reindeer loved the most by all the other reindeer. 

I know it may sound silly, but Rudolph’s position on my team is called the “Unicorn” slot. I suppose it is because he is out front, sticking out, all by himself.

Rudolph revels in delivering Christmas gifts to children who show love to others. Do you show love to others every day?

Dasher

a Respectful Reindeer

Born in 1820, Dasher is the youngest of my main reindeer.

Almost immediately after being born, Dasher was poking her nose into every corner of her stall. She learned all about the weather…how the wind blows and how storms grow. So it wasn’t long before I had Dasher as one of my lead pair. I can trust her to keep a sharp eye out so we stay away from troubling weather. 

Dasher loves to deliver presents to children who like to learn new things. I hope you want to be a learning child.

Dancer

a Reindeer Who Respects Others

Dancer is well loved by the other reindeer, even though he is one of the youngest, having been born in 1815. Yet even as a calf, it was clear that Dancer paid attention to the older reindeer and learned the lessons they had to teach. 

We can learn a lot from those who are older than we are. From Prancer, he learned agility so he was able to change directions quickly. From Vixen, he learned how to keep his balance. It was Dancer’s respect for the older reindeer that helped him come to share the Lead position with Dasher in my Number One Christmas Team.

Dancer gets a kick out of bringing gifts to children who show respect for those who are older and wiser than he. I would love for you to be such a respectful child.

Prancer

a Patient Reindeer

Prancer was born to jump. Born in 1800, Prancer showed a gift for leaping. Many reindeer calves like to jump, but they often slip and fall because they do not look where they are going.

But Prancer was patient with himself. He made the same mistakes other calves do, but he didn’t get angry and give up. He figured out what he was doing wrong and did it right the next time. Soon, he became both quick and slow at the same time. That way he was able to change directions quickly without making the mistakes other reindeer often did. That made him a perfect reindeer for one of the Swing positions on my team.

Prancer has a great fondness for children who can be patient with themselves and others. It would be great if you wanted to learn patience as well.

Vixen

a Kind Reindeer

Born in 1812, Vixen’s grace and beauty were apparent early on. She quickly caught the eye of the other reindeer, especially Cupid. 

It would have been easy for Vixen’s beauty to go to her head. Instead her true beauty was in her kind heart. Vixen’s kindness gave her a solid sense of harmony. Just what I needed to balance the bounce of Prancer on my Swing pairing. 

Vixen enjoys delivering Christmas gifts to the kindest of children. My Christmas Wish would be for you to be a kind child.

Comet

a Grateful Reindeer

Comet was born in 1758 while Haley’s Comet was lighting up the sky. Our most grateful reindeer, Comet, has always lit up the North Pole with her bright eyes and joy in life. 

Comet was very weak when she was born. But all the other reindeer helped nurse her back to health. As a result, Comet became so grateful that her attitude toward life is contagious. She always sees the goodness in others and works to create in each of us a thankful heart.

Comet delights in delivering Christmas wonder to children who are always ready to appreciate their friends and families. I hope gratitude is a big part of your life!

Cupid

a Generous Reindeer

Cupid was born on a beautiful spring day in 1799. Everyone loved our little cutie. That love created a generous heart in Cupid. He was always willing to share whatever he had. 

The Elves loved him so much that they kept making special reindeer toys for him. Cupid always liked the stories of how I used to secretly leave gifts. So Cupid started leaving some of those toys in the stalls of the other reindeer. He pretended not to know how they got there, but we all knew it was him and loved him for his generosity.

Cupid rejoices in bringing presents to children who know how to share. I hope sharing is a part of your life every day!

Donner

a Truthful Reindeer

Born in 1776, Donner is the second oldest of Santa’s reindeer. Donner’s name means “Thunder,” so she has been a great partner to Blitzen, whose name means “Lightning.” The two steady the reindeer team as the “Wheel Pair” closest to my sleigh (see explanation below).

Donner always told the truth…almost. She has for centuries now, but that wasn’t always the truth. When Donner was very young she told a lie. She told herself that it was just a “little lie.” She thought no one would notice. But that lie was about her sister and the “little lie” soon became a very BIG LIE because then Donner lied about lying.  That hurt the feelings of many other reindeer and even some elves. Donner soon realized she was wrong and had the courage to apologize to everyone. She promised never to lie again…and she has not told a lie in over 200 years!

Donner takes great pride in delivering presents to truthful children. Are you a child who always tells the truth? I very much hope so.

Blitzen

a Dependable Reindeer

Blitzen was born on March 15, 1770 on my 1,500th birthday, and is the oldest my reindeer team. Perhaps that is why I have always had a special place in my heart for him. Blitzen’s name means “Lightening,” so he has been a great partner to Donner, whose name means “Thunder.” The two steady the reindeer team as the “Wheel Pair” closest to my sleigh (see explanation below).

Blitzen is the reindeer all the other reindeer depend on when in need. He is a shining example of always being there to help. Reindeer need help sometimes, just like anyone else. If a reindeer needs a little help or if they have a really big problem, Blitzen is always there, willing to help in any way he can. He is a wonderful helper!

Blitzen gets a charge from delivering gifts to children who are always willing to help others. I pray you want to be a helpful child.