In traditional festive legend and popular culture, Santa Claus's reindeer are said to pull a sleigh through the night sky to help Santa Claus deliver gifts to children on Christmas Eve.
A parade float with a model of Santa's reindeer and sleigh in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, 2009
Illustration to the first verse of "Old Santeclaus with Much Delight", 1821
The eight reindeer, as they appeared in a handwritten manuscript of A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement C. Moore from the 1860s.
Santa Claus is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve. He is said to accomplish this with the aid of Christmas elves, who make the toys in his workshop, and with the aid of flying reindeer who pull his sleigh through the air.
Claus portrayed by Jonathan Meath
A 13th-century depiction of St. Nicholas from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai
"Ghost of Christmas Present", an illustration by John Leech made for Charles Dickens's festive A Christmas Carol (1843)
Sinterklaas, Netherlands (2009) on his horse named Amerigo