Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Fun Facts
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer came up in a conversation this weekend at a Santa Claus event. I thought it would be good to learn more about this character.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a beloved Christmas character with a fascinating history and some fun facts:
Created for a Department Store: Rudolph was created in 1939 by Robert L. May for Montgomery Ward, a department store, as part of a Christmas promotion.
Rudolph Almost Had a Different Name: May considered naming Rudolph "Rollo" or "Reginald" before settling on Rudolph.
The Song Came Later: The famous song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was written by Johnny Marks, May's brother-in-law, in 1949, a decade after the character was created.
Gene Autry Made the Song Famous: The song gained immense popularity when Gene Autry recorded it in 1949. It became a huge hit, eventually selling millions of copies.
Rudolph Wasn't Part of Original Reindeer: In the original "A Visit from St.?Nicholas" (also known as "The Night Before Christmas"), Rudolph isn't mentioned. He was added to the reindeer team later.
First Appeared in a Booklet: Rudolph first appeared in a booklet written by May and distributed by Montgomery Ward.
A TV Special Popularized Rudolph Further: The 1964 stop-motion TV special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" helped popularize Rudolph even more and has become a holiday staple.
Rudolph's Red Nose is Scientifically Explained: Some scientists have explained that a reindeer's nose turning red in extreme cold could be due to the dense network of blood vessels in their noses, a theory often linked in fun to Rudolph's famous trait.
Rudolph's story of overcoming obstacles and his bright red nose has made him a symbol of Christmas and a character loved by generations.