Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, December 17, 2016

11

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 17, 2016 


Fill your holiday stockings with SPENCER & SPORT, 
bonded brothers, age 3 mos, and purr-rect cuties!

 Sport is a sweet, fluffy, dark tabby, while his brother, 
Spencer, is a flame point Siamese mix. Spencer is very 
active, while Sport is more laid back. Both are sweet and 
playful. Since they 
are bonded and will 
be adopted together, 
they qualify for 
our special Twofur 
Discount, which 
includes their kitten 
vaccines, health 
exam, spay/neuter, 
& microchips $100. 
A great savings! If 
you are interested, please fill out our online application 
quickly, as they will be very popular! See more pictures 
and their adorable video on our website.

 Lifeline for Pets is a small no-kill rescue, and we know 
our cats well. We show some cats most Sunday afternoons 
at Petsmart, 3347 E. Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena, 12:30-
3:30. 

 Our cats are spayed/neutered, current on vaccines, and 
negative FELV/FIV unless otherwise indicated. 

See adoption info & application on our website, www.
lifelineforpets.org. Or call 626-676-9505. Sorry, we are 
not accepting cats at this time.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lifelineforpets.
pasadena. Email: info@lifelineforpets.org 

HEY SANTA, WHAT’S 
UP WITH THE FLYING 
REINDEER?

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Have you ever wondered where the idea of Santa’s 
sleigh being hauled by a heard of flying reindeer came 
from? It may sound silly, but my avid affection for 
animals prompted me to ponder this preposterous 
concept, so I decided to check into it and see what I 
could find out. Thanks to altogetherchristmas.com for 
this interesting and enlightening account of how those 
remarkable reindeer found flight into our modern day 
American Christmas tradition.

 The character of Santa Claus is largely based on 
St. Nicholas of Mayra and Sinterklaas of Dutch lore. 
Both of those figures traveled via a noble, white steed. 
However in some Western cultures, particularly 
America, Santa Claus travels the world on Christmas 
Eve delivering gifts in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer.

 In 1812, American author Washington Irving 
refers to St. Nicholas as “…riding over the tops of the 
trees, in that self-same wagon wherein he brings his 
yearly presents to children.”, in the revised version of 
A Complete History of New York written under the 
pseudonym Diedrich Knickerbocker. Yet no mention 
is made of what propels the wagon. So where did the 
story of flying reindeer originate?

 The first known written account of reindeer in 
association with the legend of Santa Claus occurred 
in 1821 when New York printer William Gilley 
published a sixteen page booklet titled A New Year’s 
Present, to the Little Ones from Five to Twelve 
Number III : The Children’s Friend by an anonymous 
author. In the booklet, reindeer are introduced into 
the Santa Claus narrative: “Old Santaclaus with much 
delight. His reindeer drives this frosty night. O’er 
chimneytops, and tracks of snow. To bring his yearly 
gifts to you.”

 During a 1922 interview, New York’s Troy Sentinel 
editor Orville L. Holley questioned Mr. Gilley regarding 
the booklet’s author and the topic of reindeer. Though 
he did not identify the author, Mr. Gilley responded:

 “Dear Sir, the idea of Santaclaus was not mine nor 
was the idea of reindeer. The author of the tale but 
submitted the piece, with little added information.

 However, it should be noted that he did mention the 
reindeer in a subsequent correspondence. He stated 
that far in the north near the Arctic lands a series of 
animals exist, these hooven and antlered animals 
resemble the reindeer and are feared and honored by 
those around, as you see he claims to have heard they 
could fly, from his mother. His mother being an Indian 
of the area.”

 In 1823, the Troy Sentinel published the poem, 
A Visit From St. Nicholas, commonly known as 
The Night Before Christmas. The poem features 
eight flying reindeer pulling Santa’s 
sleigh, and for the first time they are 
identified by name: “When what to 
my wondering eyes should appear, 
but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny 
reindeer. With a little old driver, so 
lively and quick, I new in a moment it 
must be St. Nick.

 More rapid than eagles his 
coursers they came and he whistled 
and shouted and called them by 
name; ‘Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! 
Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, 
Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder and 
Blixem! To the top of the porch, to 
the top of the wall! Now, dash away, dash away, 
dash away all!’”

 Originally called ‘Dunder and Blixem’ in the 1823 
publication, the names of Santa’s 7th and 8th reindeer 
are now commonly known as ‘Donner’ and ‘Blitzen’. 
Dunder and Blixem are Dutch words that translate 
to thunder and lightning. It was after Johnny Marks 
penned the song Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 
1949, based on the story by Robert L. May, that ‘Donner’ 
and ‘Blitzen’ became the most popular spellings for the 
7th and 8th reindeer names. May’s story and Marks’ 
song were both well received and of course, Rudolph 
is without doubt the most famous reindeer on Santa’s 
team.

 This helps determine the first written accounts of 
reindeer in conjunction with Santa Claus, but how 
did reindeer come to be associated with Santa in the 
first place? Many popular Christmas traditions related 
to Santa Claus were brought to America by Dutch 
and German immigrants. As the persona of Santa 
and celebration of Christmas developed in the west, 
customs and myths from foreign lands, including 
those of Scandinavian and European countries were 
incorporated.

 As pagans converted to Christianity during the 
Middle Ages, winter festivals and traditions, as well 
as popular pagan beliefs often mingled with Christian 
celebrations of Christmas. In Norse and Germanic 
mythology, Thor is the god of Thunder and soars 
through the sky in a chariot pulled by two magical 
goats.

 Thor was highly revered and arguably the most 
popular of Norse gods in ancient times. Images and 
stories of Thor soaring the skies in his sleigh pulled 
by two large horned goats may have influenced the 
creation of Santa’s sleigh and flying antlered reindeer, 
by those in the west familiar with such mythology.

 Reindeer were once viewed as mysterious creatures 
linked to the northern part of the world, widespread in 
Scandinavian and Eastern European countries where, 
during the 18th century, they were domesticated. 
They were often used in transportation, pulling sleds 
and sleighs, and are still an important aspect of some 
indigenous Northern European cultures, particularly 
to the Sami people (better known as Laplanders to 
non-Europeans).

 So that’s the long and short of how reindeer came to 
be known as the wondrous flying creatures propelling 
Santa’s sleigh. I hope you found this story as interesting 
as I did! And with that `I wish you all a very merry 
Christmas, and a bountifully blessed holiday season. 
Love and let live.

LOOKING FOR A BEST FRIEND?

Puzzle is a 5 year old quiet 
and calm gal, who just loves 
attention and affection. When 
you stroke her silky black and 
white fur, she melts in your 
arms. She also loves her ears 
to be scratched. Puzzle likes to 
play with catnip filled toys and 
will chase the laser dot, when 
she’s in the mood. We think 
this sweet little lady may have 
had a rough life on the streets 
as her left ear has a bit of a kink 
at the top which is actually very 
cute. What is puzzling to staff 
and volunteers is why Puzzle 
has been waiting 3 years for her 
forever family to find her and 
give her a home of her own. It 
might be that she is so polite, she 
lets the younger girls demand 
the attention. She gets along with her roommates, 
so she would do fine in a multi-cat home, or be 
happy to be a sole companion. Please come in 
and meet Puzzle and look into her wise green eyes 
to see if she’s the one you have been waiting for. 
For the month of December Puzzle’s adoption 
fee is only $40, which includes 
spay surgery, a microchip, first 
vaccinations and a free wellness 
check-up at a participating 
veterinarian. She will be a great 
gift to her new family. Feel free 
to call us at (626) 286-1159 for 
more information on Puzzle. 
She currently resides at the 
San Gabriel Valley Humane 
Society located at 851 E. Grand 
Avenue in San Gabriel which 
is located off San Gabriel Blvd, 
north of Mission and south of 
Las Tunas Drive. To arrange a 
‘Meet and Greet’ with Puzzle, 
please stop by any time from 
10:30am to 4:30pm Tuesday 
through Sunday.Website:www.
sgvhumane.org. 

 Go to smile.amazon.
com and find the San Gabriel Valley Humane 
Society and every time you buy something 0.5% 
will be donated to the shelter! It’s easy to do and 
helps the shelter with every purchase you make! 
Let your friends know about this simple way to 
make a difference!


PET OF THE WEEK: ZEKE: ANIMAL ID #A5012293


Zeke (A5012293) is an effervescent 6-year-old 
white male Maltese mix who was found as a stray 
in La Puente on November 16th and brought to 
the Baldwin Park Animal Care Center. Weighing 
10 pounds, Zeke is a friendly and trusting dog who 
enthusiastically greets new dogs. He walks politely 
on leash and seems to be housebroken. Zeke has an 
endearing can-do attitude, and will be a fantastic 
indoor companion in any loving home. To watch a 
video of this sweet little gentleman, please visit the 
following link: https://youtu.be/4kSTyctt7fk

 For more information on Zeke, please contact 
volunteer UHA adoption coordinator Catherine at 
562-301-9184 or catherine@hope4animals.org.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com