Dunder, true love, other tales

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and the rest of the crew, but do you recall the two most forgotten reindeer of all?

Cupid? Bambi? John?

Nope.

Try Dunder and Blixem. Poor guys flew around the world and back last night, helped Santa Claus deliver his gifts, carried just as much of the load as Comet and Vixen, and what thanks and recognition do they get?

None.

Thanks to one of the great urban legends of the Christmas season, everybody keeps crediting Donner and Blitzen instead. According to Snopes.com, a myth-busting Web site, these two imposters weren't even on Santa Claus' original flight team.

To sum up the confusing conundrum, Dunder and Blixem (thunder and lightning in Dutch) were two of the great eight when "A Visit from St. Nicklaus" (aka "Twas the Night Before Christmas") was first published in New York's "Troy Sentinel" newspaper on Dec. 23, 1823.

Though printed anonymously at the time, Clement Moore later penned his version in 1844 and in the process changed Blixem's name to Blitzen and Dunder to Donder.

Donder, you say?

Yeah, his day in the North Pole spotlight only lasted until Gene Autry mistakenly sang about Donner being among the meanies who wouldn't let Rudolph play any reindeer games in the song based on a popular 1939 Montgomery Ward promotional giveaway booklet.

Here are some more myths that can be as deceptive as the big box with shiny wrapping paper you picked out at your work white-elephant exchange (don't forget to water your Chia pet, by the way):

Speaking of reindeer, they are all men: You'll have to ask Santa or the reindeer (and this might be embarrassing), but it's more likely they are women. One theory why is that they are able to travel the world so efficiently because they're not afraid to stop and make Santa ask directions. Another is that reindeer and caribou are the only deer whose male, female and calves have antlers, but the male antlers usually shed well before Dec. 24, while females keep theirs around until spring.