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| Duane A. Lienemann UNL Extension Educator |
We are getting very close to a very special time for kids – young and old. Parents and grandparents alike are undoubtedly doing that last minute shopping or wrapping feverishly for the early family Christmas or perhaps an “office” party. We all have a tendency to say “Santa Claus is coming to town!” Our grandkids unfortunately have reached the age where they think they know who Santa Claus really is….we may have one young one that is not quite sure but he could be playing his parents or grandparents. One thing that is nice, and most important in my mind, is that they all know the reason for this season, and are well grounded in the traditional Christmas, even though they are growing up in an environment that is more “politically correct!” They do still seem to enjoy the prospect of what that big jolly ole Elf may bring them as they look under the tree for what he may have brought them! I can almost hear the clatter of hoofs up on the rooftop!
Some of my friends think I make a good Santa Claus. I suppose it is my girth or perhaps my nose, or hearty laugh. I do on occasion hit some friends and family homes, doing my best to emulate St. Nick. You should see the wonder in those young kid’s eyes and even the parents who have no idea who is under that suit. And yes, I do deliver some coal. I do get all kinds of questions from the young kids when they get over the shock of Santa walking in. Believe it or not, most of them have to do with reindeer. So let’s explore Santa’s reindeer--who are of course vital to delivering those gifts.
First, a little nostalgia - did you know that it was 34 years ago that the song “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” came out? Now that just doesn’t seem possible, but I have found that time does pass us by very quickly. Several years ago I highlighted some work done by Glenn Selk, former Nebraskan now at Oklahoma State University, who provided some interesting facts about reindeer that got a lot of comments at that time. I felt, in light of that, it would be fun to revisit that article. The piece was named ”Just How Do Santa's Reindeer Get the Job Done?” and the content is as follows.
Have you ever wondered how Santa's reindeer can make that monumental journey on Christmas Eve? Let's look into some key facts about reindeer that may help us understand how they get Ole St. Nick on his appointed rounds over the world. First of all, historians report that reindeer have been domesticated by humans for over 5000 years. Since Santa himself is no spring chicken, we can assume that they have worked together for quite a while. They should not have any trouble finding their way around. There is no need to worry about them getting lost.
We do know that reindeer are ruminants. They are like cattle in this regard. They have four compartments to their stomach. Of course Santa gets them full up with hay before he leaves the North Pole, so they should have plenty of feed stored in the four compartments to make it all around the globe. Also, cattle nutritionists have known for years that hay digests more slowly than grain, therefore the big meal that the reindeer eat before the journey should last even longer. Or just like your mom says "It'll stick to their ribs!".
As for drinking water that should be no problem whatsoever. In their homeland the water is all frozen so they are used to getting the moisture they need by eating snow. So as the sleigh is parked on snowy rooftops in cold weather cities, the reindeer can take on the moisture they need if they get thirsty.
How do they keep warm while flying around on Christmas Eve? The fur that they have is very thick and can hold a lot of air. The "blanket" of insulation combining fur and air helps keep them warm in even the coldest of climates. Plus flying around Christmas night in many areas of the world that are warmer than they have at home should not be a problem.
How do they fly? Well that’s a tougher question, and we really do not have that one completely answered. However, let’s look at what we do know about them. Reindeer are amazingly fast runners on the ground. A newborn baby reindeer at one day of age can out run the fastest person on earth. By the time that they are fully grown it is hard to tell what speeds that they could reach.
Next remember those huge antlers. Antlers of adult male reindeer can be as much as 4 feet long! Just think about it. Each reindeer has 2 sets; that’s 8 feet of antlers and with eight reindeer (or nine if we count Rudolph on foggy nights) that is 64 to 72 feet of total antler span. A typical small airplane only has about 20 - 30 feet of wingspan. Certainly it seems feasible that those eight reindeer, running that fast, with all that antler span, could indeed get off the ground.
There are a couple of myths about reindeer that we should clear up. You have probably heard the poem that says that they have tiny reindeer feet. Actually they have a very wide large hoof that they use at home to dig through the snow to find grass and moss to eat. You've got to think that those wide hooves would come in handy for sliding to rather sudden stops on the small landing sites that Santa has to work with on Christmas Eve. And you've probably heard the song about “up on the house top click, click, click”. Well it is true that reindeer do make a clicking sound as they walk. They have a tendon that snaps over a bone joint and makes a clicking sound on every step. These are just a few facts about Santa's Reindeer. Maybe this will help us understand that age-old mystery that occurs every Christmas Eve.
Here is wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas! May you all keep your eyes to the sky watching for those reindeer, and please remember the “Real Reason for this Season” with the same fervor as children. When it comes down to it --all of our traditions and celebrations are in respect and honor to the Christ child born in a manger over 20 centuries ago.
The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home
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