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Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Dunder and Blixem? 

The original mention of Santa's Reindeer, from the 1823 "A Visit from Saint Nicholas."


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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 Saint 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!
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Popular memory switch? Nazis taking over the song changing the names from Dutch to German? Who knows...one thing I'm sure of is that I wouldn't name my reindeer Blixem NOR Blitzen. Just sounds dumb.


-z

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