Christmas is an amazing time of year filled with snow, gifts, and portly old men on rooftops. But what makes this time so magical? No, it’s not the snowmen, candlesticks, or the presents (ok maybe the presents a little bit). It’s the four-legged mascot of this time of year. They’re Hanukkah’s helpers, Kwanzaa’s caribou, and Christmas’s caravan. If you’ve guessed it, then you’re doing well. If not, you get one more hint. They’re Santa’s chauffeurs! Yes, reindeer!
Before I start, I’d like to point out that reindeer are real animals despite the rumors stating otherwise. So reindeer, aren’t they everyone’s favorite winter mascot? If not, then they clearly aren’t getting the respect they deserve. Did you know that reindeer can run at up to 50 miles per hour? Considering they can weigh up to 400 pounds, that’s quite a feat. Did you know that they have the largest migration distance of any land animal? Some travel about 3,100 miles a year and cover 390,000 square miles in the process. They’re getting closer and closer to sounding mythical. It’s not so hard to believe they can pull a sleigh to every house in the world in one night now is it? See? These are amazing powers that these animals have. So, why do many people go through life not knowing they exist? It may be because depending on who you talk to, they don’t run at break neck speeds and travel more in one year than most humans do in a lifetime, but they do fly and have glow-in-the-dark noses.
Before I finish, I’d like to point out that the average reindeer absolutely cannot fly or light up the sky with its nose. As you can plainly see, these animals have no reason to hide behind lies about extraordinary powers. So when you tell children about what reindeer can do, tell them about how they can chase down a car and travel farther without a single checkup. Teach them to love reindeer as the lovable speed demons they are, not what the media portrays them to be.