Santa’s Reindeer names
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house no one could remember the names of Santa’s reindeer 🙂
In the original poem about St Nick (Santa) in his sleigh pulled by reindeer, there were eight reindeer names. After that, the story of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer became known as well. Thus Santa is known for having 9 magical reindeer puling his sleigh.
Santa’s reindeer names
For anyone else trying to remember Santa’s reindeer names to tell the kids or win Trivial Pursuit here they are:
- Prancer
- Dancer
- Donner
- Blitzen
- Dasher
- Vixen
- Comet
- Cupid
- and, of course, Rudolph
Many other reindeer…
But I also heard that it would take more than 214,000 reindeer to pull a sleigh of 333,333 tons (based on one soft toy per child I think it was). Now, there is no way I’m going to list out 214,000 reindeer names, even if I had a hope of knowing them all!
Arrange to delight your children NOW!
Of course, whoever did those calculations didn’t factor in the magic of Santa or the white boomers so the 9 names above are enough for me!
I’m looking forward to my children reading Santa letters soon! They loved last year’s, and even my husband liked them (and he’s not keen on Santa at all)!
Travelling across Australia
When I was 16, I spent my first Christmas away from my family (we did presents and stuff a few days early instead). Along with about 12 others from my scout district, I headed off to Perth for a Venture (this is a huge camp for Venturers, like a scout Jamboree. People travelled from across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and more to attend, and we had a ball.)
We left on Christmas Eve, packed into two vehicles (a people mover and a 4 wheel drive). Christmas night we were in a place called Ceduna for our Christmas feast. To be honest, I don’t remember what we ate but we laughed a lot as we ate and I do remember what we drank. Our district leader wanted to give us a treat so bought us a bottle of sparkling wine; he also wanted to conserve our collective funds so he purchased some cheap Spumante. And spew-mante is definitely what we called it…
Over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, we covered some 2890 km (from Melbourne to Norseman) and viewed some of the diversity of Australia – metropolitan Melbourne and Adelaide, rural Victoria, the Great Australian Bite and part of the Nullarbor Plain.
It was a very different Christmas for me – rough, no presents, sitting in a car for most of it – but I wouldn’t change it for the world as I saw so much of Australia and had a great time with friends.
In fact, now that I have thought about that trip again, I think we will have a travelling Christmas soon – probably next year.
A hanging Christmas tree
We had our break up at the scout hall last night – Santa came, we played games, we ate food and we had lots of fun. Some kids even got badges and awards.
The hall was decorated with paper chains, balloons and pictures of Santa. Best of all was a tall Christmas tree near one corner, with a basket of presents from Santa. But the tree didn’t touch the ground!
The tree was hung from the roof on a rope so it swings – can’t knock it over that way I guess, and it does get a few knocks with 60 or so kids running around. I don’t know how’s its made – its sort of spirally and then has decorations hanging on it. I think its pretty old, too.
Oh, and thanks for my present Santa!
Individual Christmas cakes
Every year, my Mum would do something special for those around us – school teachers, guide leaders, postman, etc – and one year she made individual Christmas cakes.
She bought Christmas cakes from the supermarket, those square fruit cakes, and cut them into quarters to make 4 cakes. She put each cake on a piece of strong cardboard covered in foil. We then iced them with Royal icing (the white icing on wedding cakes). On some of them we decorated the icing with icing tools to put patterns around the top.
She then got us to roll out the scraps of icing and cut out holly leaves with mini cutters. These we painted green with food colouring. We also made little balls to be holly berries and painted these red.
We decorated the tops of the cakes with the holly berries and leaves and Mum piped “Merry Christmas” on the top in white icing. We then painted the letters with gold.
To complete the gifts, we wrapped them in clear cellophane tied up with red and green curling ribbon.
They looked fantastic and were well received by everyone.
All I want for Christmas…
My nearly 6 year old son lost his 2 front teeth a couple of weeks ago. His grandparents, uncles & aunts and parents have been singing “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth“, driving him crazy!
This morning, he lost a third front tooth, so we’ve had to rewrite the song a bit…
He is well & truly sick of that song now, but we are still enjoying singing it to him.
His new teeth are now growing, and while they may not be fully grown by Christmas, they won’t be far off.
An Aussie Christmas
I think my childhood Christmases were pretty Australian.
We spent the day at my Uncle’s house every Christmas. They lived right on the beach so in between food and presents, we’d spend the day on the beach – mostly I remember playing cricket for hours on end.
It was hot, sunny and great fun!
Regardless, we had the traditional roast meal – lamb, pork and turkey I think were there most years, with loads of veggies, followed by Christmas pudding and custard and/or cream.
Present time was a bit mad, but it was controlled enough that we all watched what everyone got before the next presents were handed out – made it more fun to prolong the pleasure and enjoy everyone’s happiness at their gifts.
The day was loud and seemed to last forever, and we hated going home afterwards.
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Full details of the competition and how to share your story (the quick version is click on ‘register’ in the left menu) are on the Sharing your story page.
12 Days of Christmas corporate memo
I came across this today, and thought it was good for a laugh. This is the corporate memo regarding the 12 days of Christmas – http://www.dezert-rose.com/humor/christmas/officememo2.html
Tiny Christmas puddings
I saw those individual puddings a number of times – they look so impressive and taste yum too.
I didn’t have time to find a cake recipe and cook it up so I found a different way to make them 🙂
So, buy a lovely moist fruit cake.
Cut it into small pieces (like about 2cm by 2cm) – make them round if you have a circle cutter. If you have a little more time, roll the pieces between your fingers to make little balls of cake.
Mix some yoghurt with icing sugar. Dob some of this mix on top of each cake piece.
Chop up some glace cherries or ginger. Add a piece or three on top of each pudding.
Let it set then serve for Santa, unexpected guests or even wrap as Christmas gifts. And you can still call them home made 🙂
Paper chains for Christmas
Did anyone else make paper chains for Christmas?
We made them at school every year during Primary school, plus I attempted making some at home. At home, I cut my own paper strips and I never did get the cutting quite straight! The home made ones were a bit boring, too, as we never had coloured paper and my attempts to colour them with pencils were a bit faint and dismal.
Paper chains – cheap and easy to make for instant colour in a room for Christmas!
Our classrooms were always decked in paper chains. Then, I always looked back on the lower year’s room and wondered why the kids made chains instead of using the ones we had made (never occurred to me that the year above me probably had done some too!) I also wanted to know where they stored them all…
No more paper chains?
I don’t think my kids have ever made paper chains anywhere but at home. They don’t do them at school or childcare, or even at Joeys (the craft hub of our lives right now.) I wonder why?
Maybe they try to make things so each child gets one to take home, and maybe they prefer things that last better than paper chains so they can be stored and used for Christmas after Christmas. All very reasonable but paper chains were a fun part of Christmas each year!
Might have to start cutting some strips for this weekend – but I’ll use a cutter instead of scissors this time!
The 12 days of Christmas 21st century style
I just found another version of the old 12 days of Christmas – I thought it was clever and funny…
Modern 12 days of Christmas
by Sarah Murray
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
2 Tomigatchis and
a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
3 on-line services,
2 Tomigatchis,
and a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
4 collect calls,
3 on-line services,
2 Tomigatchis,
and a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
5 Beanie Babies,
4 collect calls,
3 on-line services,
2 Tomigatchis,
and a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
6 laser printers,
5 Beanie Babies,
4 collect calls,
3 on-line services,
2 Tomigatchis,
and a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
7 office laptops,
6 laser printers,
5 Beanie Babies,
4 collect calls,
3 on-line services,
2 Tomigatchis,
and a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
8 WWJD bands,
7 office laptops,
6 laser printers,
5 Beanie Babies,
4 collect calls,
3 on-line services,
2 Tomigatchis,
and a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
9 Tickle Me Elmos,
8 WWJD bands,
7 office laptops,
6 laser printers,
5 Beanie Babies,
4 collect calls,
3 on-line services,
2 Tomigatchis,
and a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
10 Adidas jackets,
9 Tickle Me Elmos,
8 WWJD bands,
7 office laptops,
6 laser printers,
5 Bennie Babies,
4 collect calls,
3 on-line services,
2 Tomigatchis,
and a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
11 cool CDs,
10 Adidas jackets,
9 Tickle Me Elmos,
8 WWJD bands,
7 office laptops,
6 laser printers,
5 Beanie Rabies,
4 collect calls,
3 on-line services,
2 Tomiqatchis,
and a cell phone with 90 minutes free.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
12 awesome friends,
11 cool CDs,
10 Adidas jackets,
9 Tickle Me Elmos,
8 WWJD bands,
7 office laptops,
6 laser printers,
5 Beanie Babies,
4 collect calls,
3 on-line services,
2 Tomigatchis,
and A CELL PHONE WlTH 90 MINUTES FREE!
Kouramiedes (Greek Christmas biscuits)
A Greek friend gave me this recipe – they’re very yummy 🙂
Kouramiedes
Pre heat oven to 180 degrees C
Beat 0.5 cups of room temperature butter ( which is about 115 grams or 8 Tablespoons)
Add 0.5 cup icing sugar and cream them (that is, mix them until they are pale yellow and fluffy)
Add 1 egg yolk, 0.5 teaspoon of vanilla essence and 1 Tablespoon of brandy or an orange liqueur.
Add 0.5 cup of finely chopped nuts (walnuts or almonds traditionally)
Add 0.5 teaspoon of baking powder to 2.5 cups of flour, then mix in with nut butter
Knead the dough then chill for a few hours – preferably overnight.
Make balls of dough and place on a biscuit tray (you don’t need to grease the tray) with a bit of space in between (4 to 5 cm)
Push a clove into each biscuit.
Bake for 15 or so minutes so the biscuits are light brown.
Roll in icing sugar while they are still warm.
They last well if stored in air tight containers.
**The outside sugar makes them a little messy to eat but that’s half the fun – and Santa won’t notice through his beard 🙂
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