During Christmas time we’re surrounded by the tale of Santa and his trusted reindeer. Stories such as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and others like it have embedded Santa and his reindeer into Christmas culture. Often, children have memorized the song “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by the time they’re five. We have fostered a Christmas culture heavily reliant on the concept of the Christmas reindeer; however, few know the reindeer’s true history.

Reindeer Origins

Reindeer are native to Northern Europe and Asia. Reindeer who live in North America are referred to as caribou. The Sami (of Northern Scandinavia) and Nenets (of Russia’s Arctic) are both indigenous groups who rely heavily on reindeer as a food source. Today, about ten percent of the Sami population still herds reindeer. Much of Norway’s reindeer population is herded around Kautokeino and Karasjok, and it is still common practice for the Sami to move their herds between seasonal grazing lands.

Reindeer First Come to America

In the 1800s, Indigenous peoples of Alaska were facing hunger as commercial whaling depleted one of their main food sources. A missionary named Sheldon Jackson decided the solution was to bring reindeer to Alaska. In 1898, the United States government funded the transport of hundreds of reindeer and a group of experienced Sami herders from Norway to the Alaskan shores.

Reindeer Enter the World of Christmas Marketing

Carl Lomen is credited with marketing reindeer for the sale of their fur and meat. His goal was to make reindeer meat a staple in the American household. Lomen’s efforts to promote reindeer hit their peak when he partnered with the department store Macy’s. In 1926, Macy’s held a parade led by a Santa on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. This stunt sparked a national passion for Santa and his reindeer, which translated into more parades of this nature and an influx of marketing opportunities.

Reindeer First Appear in Christmas Culture

In 1821, the tale of reindeer guiding Santa on his sleigh first appeared in children’s literature. This anonymously published poem, titled “Old Santeclaus with Much Delight,” tells of Santa being pulled by a single reindeer. The line reads, “His reindeer drives this frosty night.” The booklet also included eight illustrations, one famously depicting Santa taking off behind his one reindeer.

One Reindeer Becomes Eight

In 1823, only two years after “Old Santeclaus with Much Delight” was published, the famous poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” by Clement C. Moore took off in popularity. Better known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” this story is credited with first telling the tale of Santa being pulled on his sleigh by eight reindeer. Soon after its publication, the story became widely popular, and the eight-reindeer model was nationally recognized and adored.

The Short-Lived Ten Reindeer

In 1902, L. Frank Baum published The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. This story included a list of names for Santa’s reindeer, all different from those used in “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Baum listed ten reindeer whose names rhymed in pairs, including Flossie and Glossie, Racer and Pacer, and Ready and Steady. But the names from “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” had already grown so popular that no alternative reindeer names would be accepted by the general public.

The Late Rudolph

We all know the story of Rudolph, the socially rejected reindeer who ended up saving Christmas by guiding Santa with his glowing red nose. In 1939, Robert L. May wrote this story for a promotion by the Montgomery Ward store chain, and the books were handed out in its stores at Christmastime. The story became a Christmas classic, and Rudolph was soon accepted as Santa’s ninth reindeer.

Bring Santa’s Team Home

Add a touch of this history to your own holiday display with life-size Christmas reindeer and an outdoor Santa sleigh from Christmas Night Inc. For more of the story, read the origins of Santa’s sleigh and reindeer.