What Do Reindeer Have To Do With Christmas?

May 2024 · 2 minute read

Here's the thing about Santa's reindeer: They weren't supposed to be reindeer at all. It's generally believed that when Clement Clarke Moore wrote about Santa's reindeer, he was drawing inspiration from a couple of mythical creatures from a different sleigh-pulling legend. Santa is conglomeration of multiple myths. He's partly St. Nicholas, partly Norse god, partly Father Christmas — the list goes on. His reindeer, according to The Durango Herald, were most likely based on the Norse god Thor and his helpful, flying helpers, Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr. Which, as you probably already knew, are not reindeer, but giant goats.

Goats were tied to Christmas long before reindeer ever entered the picture. In the town of Gävle, Sweden, they're still associated with the holiday. A giant Yule goat, or Julbock, is erected every year, made of straw and standing over 40 feet in height. The Yule goat, according to CBC, is associated with old Pagan traditions of the Yule holiday and is believed to help in the delivery of presents around the world. It's said that Santa Claus rides the flying Yule goat instead of driving his sleigh. For some reason, it's open season on the straw goat, with people trying (often successfully) to set it on fire. Which seems Christmas-y.

Where goats might not be as pretty as reindeer, they both have their place in the legends of Santa Claus.

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