Christmas FAQs

Ever wonder how reindeer fly?

We did. So we went to the source of all things Christmas.

No, not Santa. This close to the Night of the Great Sleigh Pull, he is much too busy making lists that have to be checked and then checked again to take questions (however well-intentioned) from the media.

But second graders are well schooled in the workings of the North Pole.

So off to Washington Elementary School it was.

There we visited with eight very bright youngsters – Logan Payne, Harper Dode, Sophie Haynes, Harrison Flick, Kamber Timmons, Cache Mitchell, Ryker Richardson and Macy Salazar.

So how DO those wingless reindeer get airborne?

For starters, Logan said, they are “like deer, but they’re magical.”

“I don’t know how they can fly,” he said. “They just run and there are yellow sparks under their feet and then they just lift off.”

It’s a long flight so Santa should feed them before they take off.

Feed them what? Why, carrots, of course, because they are, after all, reindeer.

He plans to leave them a few carrots, as well, along with a cookie assortment for Santa.

Harper said Santa feeds his reindeer magic grain, but the reindeer themselves possess “flying magic.”

“They take off with their legs,” she added.

Pressed for more information, Harper finally admitted she has “no idea how that works.”

She’s leaving cookies, carrots and milk for the drop-in North Pole visitors. She knows from past years that’s what they like.

The snacks are always gone on Christmas morning. Only crumbs are left behind.

“They are messy eaters,” she said.

“It’s dust or something,” Sophie said. “Santa puts something on them. I don’t know any other way they could fly.”

Santa feeds his reindeer a ration that’s “like dog food, but is reindeer food.”

Reindeer chow perhaps?

Exactly, she confirmed.

Sophie will put out carrots for the reindeer and cookies and milk for Santa.

All are neat eaters, she said, so there are no crumbs to clean up on Christmas morning.

According to Harrison, reindeer  fly “with Christmas spirit” that Santa instills by feeding them magic cookies.

He is already planning to help make the gingerbread cookies that will be waiting for Santa along with a glass of milk.

He is going to leave peppermints for the reindeer.

“It’s just magical,” Kamber offered when asked how reindeer fly.

Really no other explanation is needed.

They are fed magical food.

Magical food is Santa’s closely guarded recipe, but Kamber is confident the reindeer will appreciate the carrots she leaves for them. After all, they eat every bite!

As for Santa, she will leave rice krispie cookies shaped like trees, stars, reindeer and even the Jolly Ol’ Elf himself!

Cache believes reindeer are born with the ability to fly and Santa helps it along by feeding each one a magic apple.

He said he’s never heard of leaving snacks for reindeer or Santa. But there’s a first time for everything.

So he will see if he can come up with a magic apple for the reindeer and pumpkin cookies for Santa “if he brings me all the things on my list.”

Uh, you probably shouldn’t try to shake down Santa. He’s got those lists that he keeps checking.

Ryker said reindeer have flying magic and everyone knows that Santa feeds his  reindeer candy canes.

He’s already decided to put out Oreos for Santa and candy canes for the reindeer.

What is the proper candy cane ration for a Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph?

Ryker knows.

“Eight candy canes for each reindeer,” he said.

Elf he may be, but Macy knows Santa is also part wizard.

His reindeer fly because he puts a spell on them. The spell is repeated every year just before Christmas.

Macy said Santa feeds his reindeer carrots and that is why she will leave them carrots as well.

As for Santa, she’ll set out a cookie assortment – the ones that are frosted – for Santa and call it good.

We hope this clears  up any lingering questions you have regarding unwinged reindeer and flight.