Conversation Topic - Rollo the red-nosed reindeer

Some of you may have guessed by now that I'm not your average, run of the mill English teacher. My philosophy is - If you're not having fun, something's wrong.

With that in mind I opened the Pal Talk room today using the Christmas song - Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer as the topic. I think some of the visitors to the room were a bit shocked to find themselves discussing a song about a reindeer called Rudolph. Even more shocked when I offered to sing it for them!

However, they all learnt something, if only the names of all the other reindeer.

So who is this reindeer named Rudolph, who guides Santa's sleigh with the futuristic, gene tech aberration of a red, glowing nose capable of penetrating thick fog? Has it always been an essential part of our Christmas folklore?



Actually - no, Rudolph is a decidedly twentieth-century invention whose creation can be traced to a specific time and person. The whole story of Rudolph appeared, in 1939. Santas at Chicago-based Montgomery Ward stores gave away 2.4 million copies of a booklet entitled "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer." The rhyming story was written by a person in the advertising department named Robert May, and the booklet was illustrated by Denver Gillen.

Surprisingly the original choice of name for the reindeer was not Rudolph, according to the book, Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things; by Charles Panati, the original name was Rollo, but executives didn't like it (too cheerful and carefree), they also rejected Reginald (too British). The name Rudolph actually came from the author's 4 year old daughter Barbara.



Another interesting tidbit is that the story was nearly shelved - May's bosses were worried that a story featuring a red nose (an image usually associated with drinking and drunkards) was unsuitable for a Christmas tale. It was only when Gillen illustrated the red-nosed reindeer that May was able to overcome their objections, and the Rudolph story was approved.

In 1949, Gene Autry sang a musical version of the poem and it was a run-away best-seller. The Rudolph song is second only to "White Christmas" in popularity.

And for those of you who missed the lesson:-

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer (the song)

You know Dasher and Dancer

And Prancer and Vixen

Comet and Cupid

And Donner and Blitzen

But do you recall

The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Had a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw it

You would even say it glows

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say

"Rudolph with your nose so bright

Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then how the reindeer loved him

And they shouted out with glee

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You'll go down in history!"