Every December, Santa’s sleigh and his iconic team of reindeer feel like timeless parts of Christmas. But Gordy digs into the real history behind this tradition — tracing how Arctic cultures, early American Christmas lore, and one influential 19th-century poem fused into the story we know today.

This episode explores the surprising cultural evolution behind Santa’s reindeer, from ancient Arctic sleigh traditions to the literary moment that transformed them into Christmas icons. Gordy breaks down how names, imagery, and myths converged into one of the most recognizable holiday symbols on the planet — and why the story changed again in the 20th century.

If you’ve ever wondered how reindeer became inseparable from Santa, or how a single piece of American literature reshaped Christmas mythology, this one delivers. No spoilers — but the origins aren’t what most people think.

So there you have it… Another step on our quest to become the world’s greatest conversationalists.

Sources:

• Forbes, B. D. (2007). Christmas: A Candid History. University of California Press.
  

• Miller, T. (2007). The Night Before Christmas: A Cultural History. Oxford University Press.
  

• Montgomery Ward Archives. (1939). Robert L. May Papers.
  

• Nissenbaum, S. (1997). The Battle for Christmas. Vintage.
  

• Rosenthal, B. (1982). The evolution of Santa’s reindeer. American Heritage, 34(1).
  

• Smithsonian Magazine. (n.d.). The real story behind “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.” Smithsonian Institution.
  

• Encyclopedia of Sámi Culture. (n.d.). Reindeer domestication and transport traditions.
  

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