A Reindeer Named Rollo?

All kinds of thoughts and questions have been running through my head lately, partly because of the time of year.

For example: at what age does a person go from anticipating Christmas parades to trying to avoid them at all costs?

Why aren’t children excited and enthused about getting oranges and apples and candy in their stockings? Weren’t those the things that were used to fill stockings in by-gone years?

At what point did children quit making “wish” lists for Santa and start presenting “demand” lists – or at least semi-demand lists?

Was the name of one of the reindeer “Donner” or “Donder”? Clement Moore used “Donder” in his poem “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” or “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” “Donner” was the name used in “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

By the way, I just recently learned how Rudolph came into existence. He, of course, was not one of the original reindeer. Rudolph was created by advertising executive Robert May, according to www.carols.org. May was asked to come up with something the Santa could give to children who visited him at a department store during the holiday season.

So, May wrote the now-famous poem for Montgomery Ward. During the first year, about 2.4 million copies were given out to children. In 1947, Rudolph became a short cartoon shown in theaters. Subsequently, Johnny Marks composed music for the poem and Gene Autry made his famous recording of the new song. Marks was the brother-in-law of May. (www.snopes.com)

May first considered other names, including Rollo and Reginald, before settling on Rudolph.

Can you imagine singing about “Rollo, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or “Reginald, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”?

No, I can’t either.

Yes, there are more questions running through this old head but I guess those have to wait ‘til next time.