Santas reindeer are saami!

[tundra9]

In the late 1800s someone had an idea to help the inuits in Alaska have a better life by teaching them how to herd reindeers,
and several saamis/laps from my area, including my great grandfather went with approx 650 000 reindeers to Alaska to teach them a nomadic way of life..
With all that happened in Alaska at that time, they got into the gold rush, and got very wealthy, the government tried to overthrow their claims, as they weren't from America,
which led to the biggest scandal by US officials at the time.
This was sorted, and the saamis got to keep their claims, and the governor and his cohorts went to jail.

After this, the Lomen brothers wanted to industrialize the reindeer meat production, and sold meat to the east coast, which would be banned, as they thought
the reindeer meat was from wild animals like the Caribou, so they thought up a genious plan to get the american people to know about reindeer, and get it to be so mainstream
they would be able to sell the meat all over the US.
They had an ad campaign about Santa making an appearance across the US, but get this; with reindeers from the expedition!
Needless to say, it was a great success, at least when it comes to Christmas, and Santa Claus, as children all over the world know Santa with his flying reindeer sled...
Funny to think that my great grandfather was a part of the Christmas celebration as we know it today(although indirectly)

Just saw a programme on TV about all of this, my uncle was interviewed as well, there is a book about it all as well.
The whole Santa thing made me laugh out loud abit.. 8)

From this:

To this:

 

[Michael Sith]

Great story Jorn, really interesting as well.

Great that your family heritage includes this story mate.

650,000 reindeer :shock:

I think as a homage, you need to round some reindeer up put on the red suit and beard and deliver some toys

Santa has Eight I know of, wouldn't like to name the rest :!:

One of my fav poems....by Clement C Moore

A Visit From St. Nicholas

The section relating to Reindeer..........

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
with a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and call'd them by name:
"Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer, and Vixen!
"On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!

"To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

 

[tundra9]

My bad, the total count of the reindeer herd in Alaska was at 650 000 at the most, not what they brought over, got abit carried away there

Here's a link for some more reading about the expedition:
http://www.baiki.org/content/alaskachron/1890.htm

Yeah, know that poem, always pops up during christmas, wonder why...