You know Dasher and Dancer
And Prancer and Vixen
Comet and Cupid
And Donner and Blitzen

But do you recall
The most famous reindeer of all?

The most famous reindeer of all didn’t even exist until 1939 and more shocking is that when he first arrived on the scene, his name wasn’t Rudolph.

In the 1930’s Montgomery Ward stores had Santa give away coloring books to the children who visited Santa. Executives decided it would save money if they created a Christmas storybook and publish it for the handouts instead.

Robert L. May worked as a copywriter for Montgomery Ward. He was given the task of creating the storybook and he wrote a charming story about a shy, oddball reindeer who didn’t fit in with the rest of the crew. Rollo’s bright red nose made them laugh at him and tease him.

Montgomery Ward executives liked the story, hated the name. They insisted that May find another name for the reindeer; Rollo was too carefree. They weren’t crazy about the second suggestion, Reginald, either.

Finally Robert May came up with a name that pleased the company – Rudolph. In a brilliant move, May asked for the copyright to the story.

Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer was immortalized in a song recorded by Gene Autry in 1949 and has been the star of his own Christmas special.

Robert May continued to work for Montgomery Ward and retired nicely on the royalties earned from Rollo, ahem, I mean Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer.

If you weren’t convinced that Halloween is a dangerous holiday, you need to read this story. A deer in Kent County, Michigan has got his head caught in a plastic pumpkin candy bucket and can’t get out. The young buck has the plastic jack o’lantern stuck on his head covering his snout and has been in that condition for a couple of days. Apparently the bucket handle is caught on his ear or horn buds.

Now the story didn’t mention if the bucket had any candy in it, which might alleviate some of the fears that the buck will starve if he can’t get it off. The bucket is positioned so that it prevents the animal eating or drinking.

The orange bucket may also make the deer a better target when deer hunting season opens in a few days.

Grand Rapids zoo personnel were making plans to try to shoot the animal with an anesthetizing dart, take him from the area, remove the bucket and then return him when he is strong enough to be released back into the wild.

If the animal is lucky, they won’t return him until after deer hunting season is over.

UPDATE
Some children have found what is believed to be the plastic pumpkin in their yard. The pumpkin was dented and had animal hair in it. Officials say that the rain may have helped the deer free himself from the pumpkin (maybe by giving him the added incentive of the possibility of drowning as it filled with rain?).

The young buck is once again running free and just in time for hunting season.