Rudolf the Reindeer was…Sami
(Pic: Nrk) It is at Christmas time that global interest in reindeer is heightened, as reindeer have long been associated with Santa Claus’ preferred method of transportation. In fact a quick look at Google analytics shows that it is only at christmas time that large numbers of people type ‘reindeer’ into their google search window. According to historian and journalist Roy Anderson, in a story on today’s NRK Sami Radio , the story of the connection between reindeer and Santa is connected to the migration from inner Finnmark of 500 reindeer and several Sami families to Alaska in the 1800’s, as part of ‘The Reindeer Project’, the goal of which was for Sami to teach Inuit how to herd reindeer. From Baiki, the North American Sami journal,
“To promote the sale of reindeer meat and furs, Lomen and Company collaborate with Macy’s Department Stores to stage annual Christmas parades with Santa Clauses and teams of reindeer driven by Sami and Native herders from Alaska. Matthis Ivar Klementsen Nillika is the first Santa. These parades extend into the 1930s. Participating cities include Portland, St. Paul, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle and Brooklyn. The Lomen brothers write fake children’s letters asking about Santa Claus, which are published in U.S. newspapers. Because of the letters and the parades, Santa Claus and reindeer become an integral part of the North American Christmas story”.
Andersen also pointed out that Coca Cola and Walt Disney used reindeer in their advertising campaigns, solidifying the connection between reindeer, Santa and the North Pole.
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Posted: November 28th, 2007 under Alaska, Norway, Reindeer, Sapmi.
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