With the Thanksgiving holiday now behind us and Christmas holiday quickly approaching, that doesn’t leave much time for a good debate. Maybe so, but here is you can still toss this around with family members as you chow down on leftovers this weekend. It has to do with Santa’s reindeer. They are all female — and pregnant.
Yes, it’s true. Well, maybe.
Dasher. Dancer. Prancer. Vixen. Comet. Cupid. Donder (yes, Donder). Blitzen. All of them could be making baby reindeer — and the experts say they know this because of the antlers (or lack thereof).
As you deer hunters know, male reindeer shed their barbs just after the mating season, which is in early December. So, with that in mind, a male reindeer would not have antlers on Dec. 24.
Most female reindeer keep their antlers throughout the winter. This is because pregnant females use them to dig for food through the snow. Those who know say female reindeer lose their antlers just before giving birth.
Now, of course, you can’t have pregnant reindeer without male reindeer (or a bunch of complicated science), so the guys do have something to do the with the process. They just aren’t members of Santa’s high-flyers on Christmas Eve.
There is another possibility, again according to those who know. Since castrated reindeer don’t lose their antlers, Vixen and company could be male, meaning that those mischievous elves might have some sharp knives and yet another task at Santa’s Village.
Some of you may be wondering about Rudolph, the little, red-nosed reindeer that saved Christmas. He may be the only male that pulls Santa’s sleigh. How do we know for sure? Well, we don’t, but in Robert May’s original cover art on his 1939 book, Rudolph is not sporting antlers at all, which leaves the possibility open.
If this leaves you all a bit bewildered, you are not alone. I am going with the idea that Santa’s reindeer are a mix of pregnant females (Dasher, Vixen and Cupid) and castrated males (Comet, Donder and Blitzen). I am undecided on Prancer and Dancer.
Throw that around with the leftover turkey and cranberry sauce this weekend.
Have a fantastic Friday, and thanks for reading.
Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital editions
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707