reindeer name

[Melody]

Hi Santa, I always wondered… when I was a kid I am sure one of your reindeer was named “Donder” not “Donner”, did he change his name? Or is that a misspelling by Americans?
I’ve been tempted to change the pronunciation of my name too, just to make things simpler, so I understand!

[Melody]

[Maria]

Donder? Donner makes more sense, together with Blitzen. Means “Thunder” and “Lightning” respectively.

[Melody]

Greater Basilisk wrote:

Donder? Donner makes more sense, together with Blitzen. Means “Thunder” and “Lightning” respectively.

I know, but I am sure it used to be spelled “Donder” My grandma pronounced it “Dunder”. She was German!

[Maria]

Hm. It could be, since “lightning” in proper German is “Blitz,” not “Blitzen.” Maybe they’re both a Plattdeutsch or other Nordic version.

[frozendragon]

when I was little my mom used to say it that way too.. and I think we had a book somewhere that had that spelling in it.. but I know I wouldn’t be able to find it now..

[Melody]

frozendragon wrote:

when I was little my mom used to say it that way too.. and I think we had a book somewhere that had that spelling in it.. but I know I wouldn’t be able to find it now..

I bet you are right! That spelling must of been in a kid’s Christmas book!

[frozendragon]

yes.. they were books my mom had when she was little.. she was born in 1939.. so I know it’s pretty old..

but when she passed my dad boxed up just about everything.. so there are boxes in all parts of the house.. who knows where they are now

[rockerbot]

Woah…I never heard it said that way before…but then again my family isn’t really the best example of a family that passes down traditions. 😳

[siberakh1]

You are correct. The original names were Dunder and Blixem! 🙂 Similar to German, they are Dutch for Thunder and Lightning!

This should help clear up the history a little bit.
http://www.snopes.com/holidays/christmas/donner.asp

The original names of the reindeer appear in the poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” (aka. “The Night Before Christmas”). It was first published in 1823.

Interesting!

[purpledragonclaw]

Thanks, siberakh1! I never knew that! My mom just finished watching “Miracle on 34th Street”, and it was spelled “Donder” in that movie!

[Maria]

*claps* Thanks, siberakh! :hi:

[Tiffany]

I always thought there was one named Nixen 😮

[Maria]

Maybe in a spoof or spin-off of the original poem…

[Melody]

Never mind Santa! We have sorted this one out ourselves!

[Author]

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