The Reindeer driven by Santa Claus are the only known flying Reindeer in existence, believed to have been endowed with the power of flight by virtue of magic corn given to Kris Kringle by a great and wonderful wizard. Through this magic corn, the strength of the Reindeer is increased threefold, their stamina increased to infinity and their hooves can manipulate the air as though it were solid ground. Thus, a complement of nine Reindeer would be able to pull a sleigh brimming with 13,500 pounds of gifts for an unlimited amount of time.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is perhaps the most modern of all Christmas symbols and certainly the most familiar of Reindeer, even though he was not a member of Santa’s original team. Created in 1939 by a 34-year old copywriter named Robert L. May, Rudolph was the product of a request made by May’s employer, Montgomery Ward, which wanted a Christmas story it could use as a promotional tool for its chain of department stores. The Rudolph phenomenon really caught on, however, when Johnny Marks, May’s brother-in-law and songwriter, penned the lyrics and melody for a Rudolph song. This musical version of Rudolph’s tale was recorded by Gene Autry in 1949.
The eight named reindeer of Santa Claus first appeared in American literature in 1823, featured in the famous poem penned by Clement Clarke Moore entitled, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, also known as A Visit from Saint Nicholas. Prior to the appearance of this rhyme, legend had the jolly toy-bringer’s sleigh pulled by one singular anonymous reindeer. By virtue of Moore’s poem, Santa was gifted with eight reindeer: Dasher; Dancer; Prancer; Vixen; Comet; Cupid; Donder; and Blitzen. Unfortunately, for Donder, however, this particular reindeer is not always given the recognition so well-deserved, frequently being referred to as “Donner.”
The Donder v. Donner Controversy
Confusion over the name of one of Santa’s reindeer has been present from the inception of Moore’s poem. The first published version appeared in the New York “Troy Sentinel” in 1823 and contained a typographical error that listed a reindeer by the name of “Dunder.” However, when the poem reappeared in a collection of Moore’s poetry in 1844, the name given in the text was “Donder.” Furthermore, Moore’s own introduction to the collection indicated that “Donder” was indeed the correct spelling he had intended. In addition, in a longhand version of the poem written by Moore the year prior to his death, he again rendered the name of “Donder.”
Part of the “Donder/Donner” confusion is that “Blitzen” (the reindeer with whom Donder is generally paired) takes its name from the German word for “lightning,” and the German word for “thunder” is “Donner.” (“Donder” means “thunder” in Dutch, but it is unknown whether Moore actually made this connection or whether it is merely a coincidence.)
