Magic Carrots
@owlwings (43910)
Cambridge, England
December 20, 2015 3:22am CST
Carrots are not part of a reindeer’s normal diet, which is, reportedly, moss and lichen scraped from under the snow. Why, then, is it a tradition to leave carrots for the reindeer by the fireside, along with the mince pie or cookies and the glass of milk (or something stronger)?
Carrots are, of course, well known for helping one see in the dark and this is the usual reason I give when asked the question, but is there another reason? Inquiring minds would like to know!
Do you have any other suggestions?
15 people like this
17 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
20 Dec 15
I don't think it's a tradition here to leave carrots for deer, most they leave them full of bullets.
2 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
21 Dec 15
@AbbyGreenhill I'd post a poll (if it were allowed) asking who's having venison for Christmas.
@AbbyGreenhill (45494)
• United States
21 Dec 15
@owlwings Many people, but non in this house for sure.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
20 Dec 15
Oh wow! It has been such a long time since I've heard about leaving carrots for the reindeer. I don't think we ever did, but I remember hearing it way back when. am thinking carrots sounded better than moss and lichen to tell the kids.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
20 Dec 15
someone didn't have cookies in their home and tried to convince their ticked off minions that it was ok to leave out veggies! lol
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
26 Dec 15
I may make some carrot and celery juice for me. Carrot juice is very sweet.
@Letranknight2015 (52090)
• Philippines
20 Dec 15
maybe you could that as a snowman's nose.of course, we don't make snow man here, i will just ate it.
2 people like this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
20 Dec 15
I think Santa was meant to show up with horses, and carrots are for them. Then someone decided to put Santa in North Pole, and ofc there ain't no horses there... So reindeer will have to do. Btw, shouldn't Santa be rocking up with someone motorcycle and leather jacket these days? Therefore something stronger than milk is defo needed!
1 person likes this
@Drosophila (16571)
• Ireland
20 Dec 15
@owlwings yep and can you imagine how is Santa going to get presents to Africa!
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11093)
• Calgary, Alberta
20 Dec 15
I never know that reindeers eat carrots. I thought it's only rabbits who love to eat carrots.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
21 Dec 15
Perhaps there's been some confusion between Santa's reindeer and the Easter bunny!
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
26 Dec 15
Because on Christmas Eve they work like a horse or a mule and should have the kind of treats those beasts enjoy. (just a guess). Most likely cause no one knows any better.
@Marilynda1225 (83103)
• United States
20 Dec 15
When my children were young we always left a carrot for Rudolf and cookies & milk for Santa. Guess I've always just assumed that reindeer like carrots, In fact, the deer in our area think nothing of eating peoples gardens. Hope someone knows the answer