Reindeer or Caribou? Santa’s Sleigh Team Revealed

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring—except for one big question: What exactly pulls Santa’s sleigh?

Some say “reindeer,” others say “caribou.” But which one is right?

It turns out that both names refer to the same species: Rangifer tarandus, a member of the deer family that lives in cold northern climates. The difference lies in how people use the words. In North America, wild ones are usually called caribou. If they’ve been trained or domesticated, they’re called reindeer.

That small detail matters a lot when we think about Santa’s sleigh. The famous 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” written by Clement Clarke Moore, clearly says it’s “eight tiny reindeer” pulling Santa through the sky. Moore, a well-educated scholar of ancient literature, probably chose his words carefully.

Why reindeer and not caribou? Because caribou are wild and have never been known to be tamed—except, of course, in stories about the North Pole. On the other hand, reindeer have been domesticated for over 2,000 years. People in places like Scandinavia and Siberia have trained them to pull sleds, carry loads, and help with daily life in icy places. So it makes perfect sense for Santa to choose them for his Christmas deliveries.

Reindeer are also full of surprises. Have you ever heard about their click-clack hooves? That’s no jingle bell—it’s real. When reindeer walk, their foot tendons snap over bones, creating a loud clicking sound that can be heard from 150 feet away. Now imagine that times eight, dashing through the snow!

Living at the North Pole would be tough for most animals, but reindeer are built for it. Their large hooves change shape with the season. In winter, they spread out like snowshoes to help walk on soft snow and dig for food underneath. In summer, their hooves harden to walk on rocky ground.

Even their noses are specially made for the cold. Reindeer have short hairs inside their nostrils that warm the freezing air before it reaches their lungs. This is helpful when they dig through snow with their faces looking for food like moss and lichen.

They’re speedy too! Reindeer can run as fast as 50 miles per hour. Even baby reindeer—called calves—can stand and run within hours of birth. They might not fly in real life, but they can definitely move fast enough to keep up with Santa’s busy schedule.

Another fun fact: both male and female reindeer grow antlers. Males lose theirs in early winter, while females keep theirs through the snowy months. So if you’ve ever noticed that Santa’s reindeer always have antlers in holiday pictures, there’s a good chance they’re actually female—or very young males.

And one last secret? Reindeer may eat lichen in the wild, but they love a little treat now and then. Raisins are one of their favorites. So when you set out cookies and milk for Santa this Christmas Eve, don’t forget a small handful of raisins for Dasher, Dancer, and the rest of the team.

So next time you hear hooves on the rooftop, you’ll know—it’s not caribou. It’s eight tiny reindeer, right on schedule.