Why My Reindeer Are So Special to Lapland

I have a story to tell you about my magical reindeer, why they fly, what they eat, and the names they are known by here in Lapland.

Here in Lapland, as Christmas Eve draws closer, families often ask me the same questions. How many reindeer do I have? What are their names? What do they eat? And how do they manage to fly across the world in a single night?

I am always happy to share the answers.

My reindeer are at the very heart of everything we do here in Lapland. They are cared for all year round by trusted elves, guided by Patch the reindeer elf, supported by the Sleigh Station elves, and watched over closely by Mrs Claus. They are not simply part of Christmas Eve. They make it possible.

How Many Reindeer Does Santa Have?

I fly with nine reindeer.

The original eight worked with me for many years, and later one very special reindeer joined the team to help guide us through the darkest winter skies. Together, these nine form a perfectly balanced group, capable of travelling from Lapland to homes all over the world in a single night.

The elves often say that nine is the perfect number for teamwork, balance, and harmony.

What Are the Names of Santa’s Reindeer in Order?

On Christmas Eve, as the Sleigh Station lights glow and the harness bells are checked by the elves, my reindeer are always prepared in the same trusted order.

Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen.

Each one has a different strength, and each plays an important role in our journey. Patch often reminds the younger elves that no two reindeer are ever the same, and that is exactly why they work so well together.

Santa’s Reindeer Characters and Roles

Rudolph

My lead reindeer and trusted guide. Rudolph flies at the very front of the sleigh, using his glowing nose to guide us safely through snow, fog, and dark winter skies. The navigation elves rely on Rudolph completely, and so do I.

Dasher

The fastest of the team. Dasher helps us find the quickest and smoothest routes between homes. The Sleigh Station elves say he is always the first to step forward when the gates open.

Dancer

Graceful and light on her hooves. Dancer keeps the sleigh balanced during turns and tricky landings. The elves say her movement makes even the longest flights feel lighter.

Prancer

Confident and proud. Prancer focuses on posture and smooth landings, ensuring every rooftop visit is steady and calm, just as the elves trained him to do.

Vixen

Clever and observant. Vixen notices changes in weather, timing, and spacing between houses. The planning elves often consult her instincts when conditions shift.

Comet

A quiet watcher of the skies. Comet follows the stars and feels most at home beneath the Northern Lights, guiding long stretches of the journey with calm focus.

Cupid

Kind and gentle. Cupid carries warmth and kindness wherever we travel. The Post Room elves say homes feel brighter when Cupid has passed overhead.

Donner

Strong and steady. Donner provides the strength needed to lift a fully loaded sleigh, especially early in the night when the sacks are fullest.

Blitzen

Powerful and energetic. Blitzen helps the sleigh gain height quickly after each stop and works closely with Donner at the back of the team.

Which of Santa’s Reindeer Is the Leader?

Rudolph leads the team.

Before Rudolph the Red-Nosed-Reindeer joined us, winter fog and snowstorms made parts of the journey difficult. His glowing nose changed everything. He provides confidence and direction, and the route-planning elves trust him completely.

Why do my reindeer fly on Christmas Eve?

So, why do my reindeer fly? My reindeer can fly because they are raised in Lapland, trained with care, and supported by Christmas magic. They practise on the Reindeer Runway near the Sleigh Station, guided by the flight elves who prepare them all year round.

Mrs Claus often reminds the elves that kindness and care are just as important as magic, and that is why my reindeer are never rushed, never forced, and always well rested before Christmas Eve.

What do my reindeer eat at Christmas?

Throughout the year, my reindeer graze on arctic moss, winter grasses, and oats prepared especially for them by the elves.

On Christmas Eve, they need extra energy. Families around the world help by leaving food outside their homes, a tradition the elves watch for carefully from Lapland.

Patch prepares a special blend known as magic reindeer food, made with oats and moon-sparkled ingredients approved by Mrs Claus and prepared with care by the elves.

Where do my reindeer live in Lapland?

My reindeer live here in Lapland, not the North Pole.

Lapland is their home, their training ground, and the place where Christmas Eve truly begins. It is a land shaped by snow, forest, and quiet skies, perfectly suited to reindeer who must be strong, calm, and sure of their footing.

Throughout the winter months, my reindeer move between warm woodland shelters and open snowy clearings, cared for closely by the elves. These shelters are tucked gently into the landscape, offering protection from the harshest weather while keeping the reindeer close to the forest they know so well.

Not far from their resting places is the reindeer runway, a wide, open stretch of land near the Sleigh Station. Here, the elves help prepare the reindeer for flight, practising gentle take-offs, steady landings, and calm teamwork. Everything is done slowly and carefully, never rushed, because Christmas Eve depends on trust as much as strength.

When spring arrives and the snow begins to soften, my reindeer roam more freely across Lapland’s forests and open land. They graze, rest, and build their strength naturally, enjoying the long daylight hours and the peaceful rhythm of the seasons. Summer in Lapland is quiet and unhurried, giving the reindeer time to recover, grow stronger, and prepare once again for the winter ahead.

This balance of care, freedom, and environment is why Lapland is the perfect home for my reindeer. It gives them everything they need to be ready for the most important night of the year, while still living as reindeer should.

Choosing a Reindeer to Feed on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, families can take part in a special Lapland tradition by choosing which reindeer they would like to feed.

Inside each pack of Magic Reindeer Food is a simple Christmas Eve game. Children choose one of my nine reindeer by name before sprinkling the food outside. The elves love seeing which names are chosen each year.

How can I keep the magic of my reindeer alive at home?

When you understand how my reindeer live, what they eat, and how they fly, the story of Christmas becomes more real, calm, and reassuring. Magic lasts longest when it feels grounded in care, routine, and tradition, not when it is rushed or over-explained.

Here in Lapland, where reindeer have lived alongside people for generations, care and respect are part of everyday life. It is a place shaped by snow, forest, and quiet skies, and that environment plays an important role in how my reindeer grow strong and calm before Christmas Eve.

The elves often remind me that children do not need every answer, but they do need the story to feel complete. Knowing that my reindeer are looked after, trained carefully, and supported by Christmas magic helps children settle into Christmas Eve with excitement rather than worry. This gentle balance of nature, care, and tradition is something Lapland is known for far beyond Christmas.

Simple traditions at home play an important part in keeping this connection alive. A letter from Lapland, preparing reindeer food, choosing a reindeer by name, or pausing for a quiet moment to think of the sleigh passing overhead all help link your home to Lapland, even from far away.

For families who ask a little more about how my reindeer are able to fly on Christmas Eve, I have shared a gentle explanation through a special letter from Lapland. It offers just enough detail to satisfy curious minds while protecting the wonder, in the same careful way the elves protect traditions here at home.

Every small detail, every quiet tradition, and every shared moment helps the elves and me keep the magic of Christmas alive, year after year.

Warm wishes,
Santa Claus