The names of Santa’s reindeer

Christmas lesson. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

Christmas vocabulary (20 min)

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Santa’s transport (20 min)

What are Santa’s reindeer called?

There are eight original Christmas reindeer as detailed by the famous poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (commonly known as The Night Before Christmas):

The names of Santa’s reindeer

Dasher стремительный

Dasher gets his name because he is the fastest reindeer of all. He was a lead reindeer. He first caught Santa’s eye as a young deer when he challenged all of the older reindeer to a race and comfortably beat them all.

Dancer танцор

The reindeer which all he wanted to do was dance. Constantly putting on performances for the other reindeer, Dancer was even offered a contract to perform on Broadway but his dream was to work for Santa and help deliver presents on Christmas Eve. Along with his twin brother Prancer, he studied hard at the Reindeer Aviation Academy in Lapland in order to graduate with his Christmas Wings and achieve his ambition.

Prancer скакун

Just like his twin brother, Prancer is a supremely graceful and majestic reindeer. Every Christmas Eve, Santa Claus has to drag him away from preening himself in the mirror and polishing his horns to go and deliver the presents on time. Prancer and Dancer are tied next to each other in the pack so that Dancer can keep an eye on his easily distracted twin brother.

Vixen резвая лисица

Most beautiful reindeer of all time, Vixen, always attracts a lot of attention from male reindeer.

Comet комета

Comet is the strongest of all the reindeer and is known for being a stubborn but loyal member of the team. He was named after an enormous comet which flew through the skies at the same moment he was born.

Cupid купидон

Cupid is the most romantic and passionate of all the reindeer. He was born on Valentine’s Day. Madly in love with Vixen, he is constantly trying to impress her, although Santa had to separate the two of them.

Donner гром

Donner’s name means “thunder” and she is not a reindeer to be messed with! Married to Blitzen, they are the mum and dad of the reindeer group and have to discipline the younger ones if they step out of line. Donner looks after the others from making sure their hooves are clean, to cooking hearty meals before their long journeys distributing presents.

Blitzen молния

Husband to Donner, Blitzen is the bravest member of the team, never one to back down or give up in the face of adversity. His name means “lightning”, some people say because he has been struck so many times.

Rudolph Рудольф

Rudolph is the youngest and most famous of all the reindeer, universally celebrated for his heroics in the storm of 1939. How he was born with his legendary bright red nose, no-one knows but children all over the world are very glad he was as he has led the team through many wintery nights as a shining beacon. At first, Dasher was not very happy to have been replaced as lead reindeer but after seeing how well Rudolph could guide the sleigh through even the thickest fog, he was quickly won over and only too happy to act as second in command.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer song (20 min)

https: //youtu. be/tQpP9Ippfps

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Had a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw it

You would even say it glows

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say

" Rudolph, with your nose so bright

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight? "

Then how the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee

" Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You'll go down in history"

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen

But do you recall

The most famous reindeer of all?