There are many species of reindeer around the world, some forming the mainstay of local lifestyles, providing milk, meat, bone and fur to people who have little, given their landscape and who waste less. They are superbly adapted to their environment.
Their hooves are very wide and flat, which helps them swim and they change with the seasons, hardening or softening to give the best grip for the prevailing conditions. Their coats are thick and warm, with a soft underlayer and hollow fur that traps heat and is buoyant when they swim to cross rivers. They are exceptionally beautiful creatures. Except when the yearly moult is on them… and then they are the scruffiest-looking creatures in Nature.
They are still beautiful though. Reindeers are magical creatures. Even if you are ‘too big to believe in Santa Claus,’ there are many other myths and traditions that show the place this creature holds in the hearts and minds of men.
Ancient Mongolian megaliths carved with ‘flying deer’. Image: Aloxe via Wikipedia Free Art License)
No matter how scruffy they look from a distance, the magic touches you as you meet their eyes. They may be domesticated or accustomed to people because of their captivity… yet these are still creatures with the song of the wild in their own hearts… and somehow they seem to let you share their song.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
Reblogged this on GrannyMoon's Morning Feast.
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Thank you 🙂
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Lovely. —- Suzanne
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Thank you.
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This is lovely, Sue – I especially like the monolith carved with flying deer. Seems that story predates Santa Claus, another retelling of an old tale. And I really like reindeer too 🙂
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Reindeer are such beautiful creatures…and so necessary to the survival of so many… not surprising that they have always been magical.
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Not surprising at all 🙂
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How lovely. They are beautiful creatures – even when they are looking a bit threadbare! 🙂
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You had to see them to appreciate just how scruffy they looked. But the beauty was there too.
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There is something about their big eyes that makes them so appealing 🙂
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Yes..especially when you meet them eye to eye.
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beauty depends on eyes!
mine is here
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Sue, once again you shared some of the rarest beauties in the world. Thanks always for your lovely words. You make us all more aware of the beauty in this world. Hugs! ❤
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Thank you, Colleen. They are truly beautiful creatures ❤
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