On Dasher! On Prancer, On....

                                                 
                                                        “On Dasher, On Prancer..On.."  

Santa has left the area!

The Winter Solstice has  past, and Santa helped us celebrate  his annual visit..with a few problems. His usual route over the USA had to be changed due to current situations that have recently been discovered. Due to an anonymous tweet, it was found that Santa may have a problem with his herd of reindeer.. Questions have arisen as to his possible ‘mixed herd’. With  solutions pending, according to rumors, Santa did not have clearance to fly over one of our USA states.State residents had questioned the deer names “Dancer”, “Prancer”, “Cupid” did not seem to be masculine names. “Are Santa’s reindeer male or female?” was questioned..”Are they mixed??”

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  So, maybe, Rudolf is really a lady deer! And, thinking about those names is interesting.

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Every one of Santa’s team has a great head of antlers and it has been assumed that all are male. Research has shown that adult male reindeer shed their antlers in November or early December. (Santa’s team has antlers)...Further research finds that female reindeer ALSO have antlers!! Who knew? It may be true that Santa
has some female deer in line and this could create a problem in our ’state in question”. ( It’s been a tough year!)....

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Adult reindeer of both sexes are capable of growing horns, or antlers. Males use theirs

primarily as weapons to fight their opponents but also to rub trees and plow snow to get to scarce winter food. As the snow melts, and mating season is completed in December, the antlers are less useful and are shed. So, Santa’s reindeer should be antlerless as they fly by... Arctic females of the species seem to be able to grow a lighter set of antlers, again using them to dig for food and also ward off their female intruders. Deer with stronger and more prominent antlers will probably be the domineering members of the herd. Other females seem not to ‘put in the effort’ and don’t have any antler growth. Males shed their head ornaments when conditions improve while the ladies keep their antlers until spring or early summer after calving..

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  Apparently, Santa had female reindeer in the herd. The tweet went on to say “ He had to have a female in the team. Who else would be able to guide a fat old man with a bunch of male deer around the world without getting lost?” Makes sense.

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Any any rate,  from the Norwegian point of view, the “Dark Time” or Winter Part 1 is past. Christmas has marked the end of part one and “After Christmas” begins Winter Part 2’. Daylight, when available, becomes a bit 'less dark'. Happier days ahead.

 This is the time of year when Norwegians take to the great outdoors, skiing, drink coffee, enjoy nature and generally be really Norwegian.

   Enjoy!