<P> In traditional festive legend, Santa Claus's reindeer pull a sleigh through the night sky to help Santa Claus deliver gifts to children on Christmas Eve . The commonly cited names of the eight reindeer are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen . They are based on those used in the 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (commonly called "The Night Before Christmas"), arguably the basis of the reindeers' popularity . </P> <P> The enduring popularity of the Christmas song "Rudolph the Red - Nosed Reindeer" has led to Rudolph often joining the list, bringing the number of Santa Claus's reindeer up to nine . </P> <P> In traditional lore, Santa Claus's sleigh is led by eight reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder (variously spelled Donder and Donner) and Blixem (variously spelled Blixen and Blitzen), with Rudolph being a 20th - century inclusion . </P> <P> The names Dunder and Blixem derive from Dutch words for thunder and lightning, respectively . In the premiere episode of The Simpsons, Homer misremembers them collectively as "Donna Dixon". </P>

Was rudolf one of santa's original reindeer