Christmas Reindeer

Luckily, the original nine have kept their own magical qualities over the years, and have been a piece of awe and wonder for children all over the world.  Many children will even report hearing the sound of reindeer hooves of their roof before bed on Christmas Eve, help to keep children, and parents up all night for a small piece of yuletide mystery.

Their Origin

There has been a certain amount of controversy as to where Santa's reindeer came from, even though every child across the world could answer it easier than any adult.  The controversy doesn't come from the actual literary work, but more precisely, who wrote it.  The reindeer first rear their head in the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which has been more commonly known as "Twas the Night Before Christmas."  This piece of literature essentially introduced how the entire anglo-centric world views Father Christmas, down the his plump belly, jolly red suit, his white ball cap, and even the cloven engine of sleigh. 

The piec was originally published under the name "Anonymous" in the Sentinel, a publication base in Troy, New York.  Due to the anonymous nature of the work, it is still unclear who actually wrote the memorable work.  Two names have been put forth as likely candidates for the title of author, namely Clement C. Moore (whose name currently occupies the author spot), and Major Henry Livingston, Jr., who many believed to be the actually author of the beloved children's classic.  Moore was credited with authorship in 1837 reprintings of the poem in two Pennsylvania newspapers, and later claimed authorship following pleas from his children.  Some claim he was simply being opportunistic in regards to claiming the authorship, while others believe him to be the scribe.  If Moore did not write it, then the chief candidate would be Livingston, who was a a distant relative of Moore by marriage. 

Moore was a scholarly writer, and many claim that he would have been unable to writer a piece like this.  Livingston was also a writer, and had background that would have allowed for inspiration for this tale.  Many of the common elements in the story were based on Dutch tales of Saint Nick, and Livingston's mother was Dutch.

For many, this controversy may never be closed.

As for children, they know where reindeer come from... the North Pole.