Secrets of Santa’s Reindeer Revealed
Elf Victor, Santa’s head elf of Reindeer Operations, was in North Pole Chat to discuss the current status of the reindeer and details of the call up of 500 reindeer by North Pole Flight Command to help with the crisis in Santa’s Workshop.
During the course of that discussion, where questions from site visitors were posed, several secrets of Santa’s reindeer were revealed:
| Elf Ernest | Elf Victor, who is the head elf over Reindeer Operations, joins us today when the reindeer are in the news |
| Elf Ernest | Victor, welcome! |
| Elf Victor | Hello! By the way, Elf Winslow is here with me handling the keyboard for me. |
| Elf Ernest | Hello Elf Winslow! |
| Dillearl | Can I ask a question for Elf victor a question |
| Elf Ernest | I would also note we have a number of other elves in attendance, you just can’t see them because they are on mute |
| Elf Ernest | Just a moment please, Dillon |
| Elf Ulan | (Hello, Elf Winslow!) |
| Elf Ernest | Elf Victor, there seems to be some excitement about the 500 reindeer who were activated by North Pole Flight Command. Why is this a big deal? |
| Elf Victor | It’s a big deal only because the Workshop is late. Normally we see reindeer moving items starting in August. This year we couldn’t do that because the workshop wasn’t making things. |
| Elf Ernest | So this is a late starting effort? |
| Elf Victor | Yes, very late. |
| Elf Ernest | Is that…bad news? |
| Elf Victor | No, I don’t think so. We still have about three weeks. It’s going to be a busy three weeks and it won’t stop at 500 reindeer, I’ll tell you that. |
| Elf Ernest | How many reindeer will be activated? |
| Elf Victor | All of them. |
| Elf Ernest | All? How many is that? |
| Elf Victor | Better than 70,000 right now in camp. We are looking for more though. |
| Elf Ernest | Whoa. |
| Elf Ernest | On a normal Christmas Eve, how many reindeer are flying around all over the world to support Santa? |
| Elf Victor | Last year it was about 60,000 that flew as part of Operation Airlift. That’s a normal year |
| Elf Ernest | So you’re saying better than 70,000 reindeer will be flying FOR WEEKS even before Santa launches? |
| Elf Victor | That’s the plan, yes. The Kringle Plan. |
| Elf Ernest | Holy smokes. |
| Elf Ernest | Is that going to solve the crisis in Santa’s workshop? |
| Elf Victor | We don’t know. |
| ElliottACDC | yeah |
| Elf Ernest | When will we know? |
| Elf Victor | Maybe by the time Santa takes off. |
| Elf Ernest | Well no wonder everyone is making a big deal about this announcement today. |
| Elf Victor | Yes. We’re excited though. The reindeer are ready. |
| Elf Ernest | Ok, well, Elf Victor, we have some good friends here today who want to ask you questions. |
| Elf Victor | I am delighted to answer them if I can |
| Elf Ernest | Dillon – please ask your question |
| Elf Ernest | Who else has a reindeer question for Elf Victor? |
| Dillearl | El vector how is Rudolph doing this year with his red nose |
| Dillearl | Sorry I spelled your name wrong |
| Elf Victor | Thank you for asking about Rudolph. He is in outstanding shape this year and his nose, I am happy to report is running at 98%. Which is pretty good. |
| Dillearl | Elf victor |
| Elf Buddy Christmas | Do you think with all these reindeers being sent out that it will get the workshop caught up. |
| Elf Ernest | Does Santa have Rudolph light his nose only in bad weather? |
| Elf Ulan | (Elf Ernest, can I ask Elf Victor, too?) |
| Elf Victor | Hi Elf Buddy Christmas, I have great faith in our reindeer, of course. But they don’t control how much the workshop puts out. I don’t know where we stand with all that. But I can tell you the reindeer will give their all to see that Santa is supported. |
| Elf Ernest | Go ahead, Elf Ulan. |
| Elf Victor | Santa uses Rudolph in a lot of bad weather, yes, but he will light up Rudolphs nose a lot in the dark so other flying objects like planes don’t run into the sleigh. |
| Elf Ulan | (Thank you, Elf Ernest!) |
| Dillearl | Elf Victor i heard from Mrs Claus and she said she would be at party this year on the 17th of December at are clubhouse party this year |
| Elf Victor | My goodness! A lot of Rudolph questions today |
| 67mangos | Heloo |
| Elf Victor | Dillon, I can tell you that Mrs. Claus did put in a reindeer shuttle request for that date, I believe. |
| Elf Victor | Hello 67mangoes |
| 67mangos | Elf Victor am i on the nice list |
| Elf Ulan | Elf Victor, I’m glad to see you again here. How do the pilots and reindeer work together as a team? Do they train in a special way for the Christmas flight? |
| Elf Victor | 67mangoes, I’m in the Reindeer Department. I don’t know anything about lists. |
| 67mangos | then who would |
| Elf Buddy Christmas | For those who want to leave out treats for reindeers this year what are some things to leave out for them? |
| Elf Victor | Reindeer do train, and pilots do train too. Santa is the best sleigh pilot in the world but he rarely trains with his team any more. They have flown together for so long they just know what to do. |
| 67mangos | ELf Buddy Carrots |
| Dillearl | About Santa Claus is he coming to our Christmas party this year on the 17th of December at are clubhouse party this year with ms Claus? |
| Elf Victor | Thanks for asking about feeding the reindeer. I believe Elf Ernest, Mrs. Claus and Elf Ed Zachary are going to publishes resources that will help that |
| Elf Shine | Elf Enest can I ask Elf Victor somthing |
| Elf Victor | But I will just tell you to keep it simple with whole grains like oats (which they love) and carrots and apples. If you have those three, it’s all good. Oh and lots of water. Just water. |
| Elf Ernest | Elf Shine please go ahead. |
| Elf Victor | Dillon, I don’t know Santa’s schedule. He manages his own team of reindeer, so I couldn’t tell you |
| Dillearl | Okay |
| Elf Ernest | 67mangos, you need to contact Santa via the North Pole Post Office. |
| Elf Ernest | Elf Shine did you have a question? |
| Dillearl | Elf Ernset do you know elf popcorn |
| Elf Ernest | Nope, never heard of Elf Popcorn. What department is that elf in? |
| Elf Shine | How many reindeer are there around at year’s around |
| Dillearl | He’s a scout elf |
| Elf Ulan | Thank you, Elf Victor. This year is different, I thought many reindeer and the pilot don’t have enough time to train as a team. |
| Elf Victor | Santa has I believe 18 reindeer ranches around the world. When it isn’t Christmas we do try to count all the reindeer but really that’s hard to do. As for how many reindeer that come to the North Pole, if we include all the babies, it’s about 200,000 |
| Dillearl | Is it cold at the North Pole |
| Elf Victor | Elf Ulan, you bring up a good point. I’m sure the News Department will cover this, but we are working very hard to get enough pilots for all the sleigh and reindeer work that needs to go on. There will be some flight training mixed in with all that. |
| Elf Ernest | What kind of scout elf? There are many kinds. |
| Elf@ashanti | Hi everyone |
| Elf Victor | Part of pilot licensing and certification includes being able to work with different kinds of reindeer. |
| Dillearl | Elf popcorn is a scout elf |
| Elf Victor | Hello Elf Ashanti |
| Elf Ernest | Yes but what kind of scout elf? A weather scout? A location scout? A reindeer scout? |
| Elf Victor | there are a lot of scouts in transit right now to different parts of the world. A lot of reindeer are involved in their movement. |
| Elf Ernest | Professional tracker elves are also considered scouts. |
| Dillearl | I got a letter from Santa Claus |
| Elf Victor | Yes, we move a lot of them around as well. They are a few weeks away from their field assignments right now. |
| Elf Ernest | Victor, I heard a rumor and I want to know if it is true. Is Prancer healthy? |
| Elf Victor | Yes, Prancer is just fine. What did you hear? |
| Elf Ernest | I heard Prancer had a bad hip. |
| Elf Victor | No, not true. |
| Elf Victor | Prancer is 100%. |
| Elf Ernest | Okay, good to hear. What about Vixen? |
| Elf Victor | 100% |
| Elf Ernest | Do you know the status of every reindeer? |
| Dillearl | About Donner |
| Elf Victor | I personally oversee Santa’s team. |
| Elf Victor | Donner is 100% |
| Elf Ernest | Personally? |
| Elf Victor | Yes, always. Every year. |
| Elf Ernest | But you’re the director over there! |
| ElliottACDC | do you know Nora the elf pet |
| Elf Victor | Yes. But this was a promise I made Santa long ago. |
| Elf Ernest | Nora? Don’t know a Nora. |
| Dillearl | I want to meet Santa Claus in person |
| Elf Ernest | When you say you made a promise, what do you mean? |
| Elf Victor | Santa asked me to personally watch over his reindeer. And I do. I am never far from them. Without them, Santa cannot be Santa. They are very important. |
| Elf Ernest | What would happen if one of those reindeer like Donner couldn’t do it? If he got sick or injured or something? |
| Elf Victor | I don’t know. That’s never happened at Christmas before. |
| Elf Victor | We have had some close calls. Like Vixen two years ago. |
| Dillearl | I really want to meet Santa Claus in person |
| Elf Ulan | Thank you, Elf Victor! I hope they are going to smooth and safe. By the way, Most reindeer don’t have a red nose, so how do they fly in the dark sky? |
| Elf Victor | But we have always managed to have them healthy for Santa on Christmas Eve and as long as I am around that will always be true. |
| Elf Victor | Elf Ulan, that’s a very good point. |
| Elf Victor | Santa’s sleigh has lots of lights, however. |
| Elf Victor | State of the art lights, I might add. |
| Elf Victor | And, as I said, Santa is the best sleigh pilot in the world. He could literally fly with his eyes closed. |
| Elf Ernest | hahaha, has he ever done that? |
| Elf Victor | Oh sure! He calls it autopilot. But it is really when he just lets the reindeer control the sleigh and he’ll take a little snooze. |
| Elf Ernest | Are you serious about that? |
| Elf Victor | Yes! |
| Elf Shine | Elf Victor, how old is Rudolph? |
| Elf Victor | Sometimes I think he does it to drive Flight Command crazy. |
| Elf Victor | Rudolph is one of the youngest reindeer still. He’s 86. |
| Dillearl | Elf Ernset I really want to meet Santa Claus in person |
| Elf Ernest | Any last questions for Elf Victor today? These have been GREAT questions. |
| Elf Ernest | Dillon, I hope you can one day. |
| Elf Ernest | Victor this has been a really informative chat, thank you! |
| Elf Buddy Christmas | What is the process like getting them ready for the big day? |
| Elf Shine | When was is Rudolph born |
| Dillearl | Maybe at are clubhouse party this year on the 17th of December |
| Elf Ulan | Thank you, Elf Victor! Wow, Santa’s sleigh is amazing! How about other sleighs? Do they have the same system, too? |
| ElliottACDC | do you know there is 23 dAYS INIL CHISTMAS |
| Elf Victor | The process of getting them ready takes months. The Reindeer Games are part of that to get them into shape. At this point with December 1st being tomorrow, we shift our focus |
| Dillearl | When does Santa Claus take his test flight |
| ElliottACDC | ZZZZZ TIRED |
| Elf Victor | Especially for Santa’s team. Right now, it’s about preventing illness and injury. We watch their activity and diet closely. At some point, we will put Santa’s team into isolation. |
| Elf Victor | Santa never test flies his sleigh himself. That’s always done by Flight Command and the Sleigh Department. |
| Elf Ernest | Elf Victor, thank you for being with us today! |
| Elf Victor | Always a pleasure. If I don’t see you all before Christmas, Merry Christmas! |
| Dillearl | I hope you guys have a good day |
| Elf Ernest | Merry Christmas, Elf Victor! Thank you for your service to Santa. |
| Elf Ernest | Great chat, everyone! Make it a great day! |
Elf Winslow Rutherford is a special assistant to Elf Ernest at the North Pole who has served in the Public Relations Department in several capacities over the years. Presently he serves on the editorial board of SantaUpdate.com coordinating North Pole Chat Events.
Latest posts by Elf Winslow (see all)
- Secrets of Santa’s Reindeer Revealed - November 30, 2025
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