Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is so ensconced in Christmas that is hard to imagine it was not a poem, song, movie, or even a television special initially. Rudolph, the young buck with a luminous red nose, after enduring mocking from his peers manages to prove himself one Christmas Eve by leading Santa’s sleigh on a foggy winter night. His special capabilities lead to saving Christmas and acceptance from his fellow reindeer. And really don’t we all want acceptance and acknowledgment for our uniqueness? Oh Rudy, I didn’t know your little fiction was going to evocate such depth.
This cute little parable was created by Robert L. May in 1939 as a publicity- money saving assignment for Montgomery Ward. The retailer had been gifting coloring books for Christmas every year and decided that creating their own book rather than purchasing from an outside source would save money. Originally, Rudolph was supposed to be a moose but was changed to a reindeer, which seemed friendlier. Rollo and Reginald were both names under consideration before deciding upon Rudolph. Can you imagine Rollo the red nosed moose? Not as catchy. Note to all writers including myself; always adhere to all available alliteration as authorized acceptable. Another problem with Rudolph’s initial conception was the issue of a bright red nose. Then as now, it is associated with chronic alcoholism. Rudolph’s shiny nose lead to the story’s initial rejection. Because of this, Rudolph came to be illustrated so adorably cute. The alert, bouncy, adolescent reindeer could never be construed as a drunkard.
In Rudolph’s first year of publication, Montgomery Ward distributed 2.4 million copies of the coloring book. For you poetic types the story is written as a poem in anapestic tetrameter, the same meter as “Twas the Night Before Christmas”. Because you wanted to know. Admit it, you wanted to know.
Then came the song, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and it is the 2nd most successful Christmas song in history. (White Christmas is numero uno). Written by someone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas, of course. Since Rudolph’s launch into popular culture, he has been mentioned in numerous songs besides the classic, feature films and even a series of postage stamps.
These pumps are all-wrong, the nose is green. However, at first glance, we all know they are an incarnation of Rudolph. Now I can’t really prance around in these festive babies all year long, but they were kitschy enough to push me into the finals of the ugly sweater contest, which I won by a nose.
Happy Merry Everything!
Laura
