By: Patrick Troyer, Paulding SWCD
The Christmas season is upon us and there are many holiday traditions and sights that can be connected to nature with the holiday. Animals such as reindeer are a common topic discussed among children during the holidays as they begin to make their Christmas lists for Santa Claus. Another sight of nature that is common to see around the holidays is the Christmas Tree that finds its way into our homes each holiday season.
Much to the delight of many children, reindeer do exist although they may not have the bright and shiny nose that we see with the famous Rudolph. Reindeer and caribou are relatives of elk and other deer in the mammal group of even-toed hoofed animals called Artiodactyla. Reindeer is a term used when referring to domesticated caribou while the term caribou is used when talking about populations in the wild. Reindeers are best known for their large antlers. According to the San Diego Zoo, reindeer have the largest and heaviest antlers of all living deer species with the male antlers measuring 51 inches long with a female’s measuring 20 inches long!
The tip of each antler on the reindeer is known as a point. Antlers of the reindeer are not permanent and fall off and grow back each year. The San Diego Zoo says that when the antlers are growing it is known as “velvet” since skin, blood vessels, and soft fur cover the developing antlers. Once this velvet dries, the reindeer will rub this off against a hard substance such as rocks or trees to reveal the hardened, bony core. According the San Diego Zoo, males begin growing their antlers in February with females starting theirs in May and finishing at the same time yet shedding them at different times of the year. The male loses his in November while the female keeps hers until she has calves (baby deer) the following spring. The San Diego Zoo writes that the antlers come in handy when it comes to having weapons to use against predators, males impressing females, or females will use them to move snow out of the way to find food in the winter.
Reindeer also have a unique way of staying together even in the most treacherous of conditions. According to the National Wildlife Foundation (NWF), some subspecies make a “clicking” sound when they walk so they can stay together. They are also well adapted to the differences in terrain they encounter with each season. In the winter months, their hooves will shrink to walk on the frozen ground and then swell in the summer months to walk across the soft, mucky ground.
Another common holiday sight is the ever-famous Christmas tree that finds its way into our homes every season. Where and how did this tradition get its start? Trees and plants such as evergreens that remained green all year long have held a special meaning to many in the winter for thousands of years. According to the History Channel, the evergreens were believed to have helped keep away unwanted spirits, witches, ghosts, and illness. It was also believed that the sun was a god and winter came due to the fact that the sun god became sick and weak. History Channel notes that evergreen boughs reminded ancient people that all green plants would in fact grow again and spring would come again. Germany receives the credit for starting the Christmas tree tradition around the 16th century when devout Christians put up decorated trees in their homes, according to the History Channel.
The Christmas tree was viewed by many 18th century Americans as a strange tradition with German settlers in Pennsylvania among the first to embrace the decorated tree. The History Channel writes that Christmas ornaments began arriving in the United States by 1890 with some of the first decorations including things such as berries, apples, nuts, popcorn, and marzipan cookies.
Christmas trees have been sold commercially in the United States since 1850. Among some of the common trees sold and grown by tree farms include: Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Colorado Blue Spruce, and White Pine. Douglas Fir is the most popular variety sold in the United States for real Christmas trees. According to realchristmastrees.org, it is one of the stronger softwood species that grows between 70-250 feet tall, has spreading branches that give the tree a tall yet filled out look. There are still many people who like the traditional live tree in their homes, yet many want to save themselves the mess and go for the artificial version.
As you take in the sights and sounds of the season, take a moment to think about the reindeer and the Christmas tree and about what they stand for during the holiday season. On behalf of the Paulding SWCD, I wish everyone a safe and prosperous holiday season!
