Reindeer Dreams

This remarkable press photo sparked my interest in reindeer last winter and I realised on reading the newspaper article that I had a herd of these magical creatures right on my doorstep in the Cairngorms. 

I added the reindeer centre to my Wish List and finally got to see them this October on a golden summery day when the mountains were especially beautiful. 

Reindeer were reintroduced to Scotland in 1952

by a Swedish reindeer herder Mikel Utsi who recognised that this terrain was ideal for reindeer and couldn't believe that there weren't any tucked away anywhere. They had been extinct in Britain for thousands of years - it's not known when they died out.

The herd in the Cairngorms is now going strong and thousands go to visit them every year.   http://www.cairngormreindeer.co.uk /

I created a poem about reindeer inspired by the herd near Aviemore, but it's not a patch on the one featured further down the page.  I also brought home a reindeer that doesn't need feeding.

A re-introduction

(Reindeer were re-introduced into Scotland in 1952)

  

Here’s one now!

Let me introduce you –

Meet the smaller-than-you imagined furry animal

Friendly because food-focused

Hoovering up bran and *black gold

Like a soft-mouthed vacuum cleaner

A deer with sink-plunger feet

Deciduous signature antlers -

An annual make-over

Of bespoke headwear

A triumph of form over function

Challenging the neck

Food all gone she

Merges back with the herd.

Sensibly shod but with high-fashion headgear

Stylishly sporting bibs of extra fur at the neck

There they go in all their soft colourways

Beige and sable, blonde and mink

Cairngorm reindeer

Perfectly dashing!

*black gold – a serendipitous by-product of the Scottish whisky industry

  

Sally Givertz©2014

  

But why did reindeer become associated with Christmas?  Was it the famous poem by Clement C. Moore?  Originally entitled, "A visit from St Nicholas"  it is now better now as "The Night Before Christmas".

Poor Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863, U.S.) was a heavy-weight scholar and theologian and looks like a fairly serious creature. He would probably be surprised to know that he is now most remembered for a light poem he wrote to amuse his children.  He even gets movie credits on Wikipedia!

Yes reindeer are used to pull sledges through snow but where did CCM get the flying reindeer sled idea?  It must have been a dream I think. Apparently we all dream of flying at some point. It's in the collective unconscious somewhere.  Think of all those wonderful paintings by Marc Chagall.There is nearly always a flying creature somewhere if you look closely.

However it came about, it's a great poem and an annual treat to share with children:

The Night Before Christmas

by Clement C. Moore  (1779 - 1863)

  

TWAS the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there;

THE children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And Mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

WHEN out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

THE moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of midday to objects below,

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 knew 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, Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

AS dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

AND then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

HE was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

THE stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

HE was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying a finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

HE sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

AND TO ALL     

A GOOD NIGHT !

 

So, as dreaming is a source of creativity, let you mind range free like the reindeer in the Cairngorms and feed your imagination.