Why is Santa Claus pulling a sled with a reindeer?

Legend has it that Santa Claus gave a gift to a child on a sleigh ride by reindeer on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus climbed into the house from the chimney and left a Christmas present for the children. The reindeer is our well-known Christmas “car driver”.

Every Christmas, the reindeer would pull Santa Claus on the sled to give gifts to the children. Although this is just a fairy tale that people have made up, the title of “driver” is more suitable for horses than reindeer. There are 9 reindeers sleighing for Santa Claus: Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donner, Blitzen, Cupid, Comet.

The original eight reindeer (from Dasher to Blitzen) were named in the 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” Their names collectively create an image of a fast, powerful, and graceful team.

Rudolph was introduced later in the 1939 story and subsequent song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” He represents the idea of overcoming adversity and finding one’s unique purpose.

Santa Claus’ nine Reindeer

So, why is Santa Claus pulling a sled with a reindeer?  There are three important reasons：

Firstly, Origins of the Legend

The story of Christmas originated in Western Europe. In the West, deer is a symbol of good fortune and joy, while horses in the West represent war and authority. And the reindeer is a kind of gentle animal. Compared with the horse, it is more intimate and more popular with children. It has more fairy tales and mysteries than horses.

The poem: Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas” is credited with creating the modern image of Santa flying through the air in a sleigh pulled by eight named reindeer.

Arctic connection: Reindeer are native to the Arctic, where they have traditionally been used to pull sleds for centuries, which helped solidify the connection between the animals and Santa’s transport, notes Quora.

Mythological influence: The Norse god Thor, who was said to fly through the sky in a chariot pulled by goats, may have influenced the image of a sky-faring figure with a team of animals.

Secondly, Reindeer are Suitable for Sledding

Reindeer is distributed in the Arctic region of the Northern Hemisphere, including in Eurasia and northern North America, and some large islands. They are medium in size, large and wide in the main hoof, deep in the central line, large in hanging hooves, and wide in palms. They are the largest of the deer, and they can touch the ground when walking. They are suitable for walking on snow and rugged roads.

A large migration of hundreds of kilometers per spring is enough to prove that they are full of energy, and their spring-born pups are not comparable to any animal. Really have the talent to be a driver.

Magical abilities: In the stories, the reindeer are magical, capable of flying, pulling a magical sleigh full of toys, and traveling the world in a single night.

Adaptations to cold: Reindeer are perfectly adapted for cold climates, with a dense double layer of fur to stay warm and shovel-shaped hooves for digging through snow for food.

Cultural significance: The reindeer has long been a symbol of survival, endurance, and safe passage through harsh winter landscapes in various cultures, which adds to their symbolic importance for Santa.

Thirdly, Adaptability

In modern times, scientists have found that in the Arctic, the UV level is highest compared to other wavelengths. The reindeer living in the Arctic Circle has been affected by this ultraviolet radiation for many years. It has long been accustomed to adapting to the environment so that the reindeer can see ultraviolet rays that are invisible to many animals. This is called ultraviolet vision. UV vision may be a special adaptation to the Arctic creatures.

The researchers also speculated that the reindeer’s food moss can absorb the ultraviolet spectrum, and the reindeer’s fur can absorb the ultraviolet spectrum. Professor Jeffrey of the University of London also said in the study: “We found that reindeer can not only see ultraviolet light, but also use this ability to find food and find danger.” Western European countries are closer to the Arctic Circle. Every Christmas, They are all white snow, so this UV vision can help the reindeer survive safely in the snow.

The researchers also speculate that perhaps this UV vision can help them distinguish between seemingly flat snow, identify contrasts, avoid danger, and distinguish directions for safe travel. Although horses often appear in Western stories, in the Christmas story, the role of “the driver” is more suitable for the reindeer of the ice world. After all, in the fantasy of people, Santa lives in a very cold place. Well.

Therefore, due to this fairy tale, the reindeer is also very popular among people. We could find a variety of bronze reindeer statues in public places, zoos, or home gardens. The deer is also a symbol of good fortune, so this statue is a very suitable gift for friends.

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