The Christmas reindeer has become a beloved symbol of the holiday season, but few know its true history. Reindeer are native to Northern Europe and Asia, and the Sami and Nenet indigenous groups rely heavily on them for food. In the mid-1800s, reindeer were transported to Alaska to help the Inuit people who were starving due to the commercial hunting of their main food source. Carl Lomen marketed reindeer for their fur and meat, and his partnership with Macy's in 1926 sparked a national passion for Santa and his reindeer. The tale of reindeer guiding Santa on his sleigh first appeared in children's literature in 1821, and the famous poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore is credited with first telling the tale of Santa being pulled on his sleigh by eight reindeer. Rudolph, the socially rejected reindeer with a glowing red nose, became a Christmas classic in 1939 and was accepted as Santa's ninth reindeer. https://blog.christmasnightinc.com/the-history-of-the-christmas-reindeer/