In traditional festive legend, Santa Claus’s reindeer pull a sleigh through the night sky to help Santa Clause deliver gifts to children on Christmas Evening The commonly cited names of the eight reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. They are based on those used in the 1823 poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” (commonly called “The Night Before Christmas”), arguably the basis of the reindeer’s’ popularity. The names Dunder and Blixem derive from Dutch words for thunder and lighting, respectively.
