Legend:   All of Santa's reindeer are female.

Example:   [Collected on the Internet, 2000]

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year (the only members of the deer family, Cervidae, to have females do so). Male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers until after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen . . . had to be a girl. We should've known that when they were able to find their way.

Origins:   According to the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Reindeer FAQ, it is true that only female reindeer retain their antlers much past the beginning of winter:

Reindeer and caribou are the only deer (Cervidae) where males, females, and calves produce antlers. Substantial growth of calf and female antler can be obtained with good nutrition. Some females can grow small shovels (eye-guards), normally grown only by bulls. Like other deer, reindeer shed their antlers annually. Bulls drop their antlers by January, and pregnant cows and calves retain theirs until spring. Normally, pregnant cows retain their antlers a week or so after calving for advantage over food resources. New antler growth in the spring and summer is nourished by a highly vascular covering called velvet which is shed in August. Bull antler hardens (ossifies) in June and cow antler in July. The primary function of antler is for gaining social dominance.

So, are Santa's reindeer really all female, even though some of them bear masculine names such as "Rudolph" and are often depicted with male personalities and voices? Well, it's not impossible that a male reindeer could retain his antlers as late as December 24, just not necessarily the norm. And that's not nearly as unusual as a fellow who lives at the North Pole, spends the year making toys for millions of children all over the world, and manages to deliver all of them in a single evening. If Santa could find a way to make reindeer fly, his coming up with a way to ensure the bulls kept their antlers until late December must have been a piece of cake.

Last updated:   30 July 2007

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