![we bare bears icy nights 2 german words in english language we bare bears icy nights 2 german words in english language](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51DHQ17CAPL._SX315_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)
Nicholas, the man whom Santa is based on. Both the English Santa Claus and the Dutch Sinterklaas are based on the name of St. So, that covers the reindeer, but Santa Claus himself also goes by many different names. In the original poem, Donner’s and Blitzen’s names were Dunder and Blixem, which are the Dutch words for “thunder” and “lightning.” (Although if you are naming a reindeer “ Vixen” that probably says more about you than it does the reindeer.) Blitzen’s seemingly odd name makes more sense when you pair them with Donner. Most of the reindeer’s names are based on actual words. May in his 1939 storybook “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Nicholas,” commonly known as “Twas the Night before Christmas.” The ninth reindeer was created by Robert L. The first eight reindeer (Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen) were first introduced in the 1823 poem “A Visit from St. Reindeer are a popular Christmas animal thanks to the team of eight-or nine-reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh. As you likely expected, reindeer is related to the word deer through the Norse word dȳr, meaning “animal.” The word reindeer comes through the Middle English raynder from the Old Norse word hreindȳri. Reindeer like to live up north in pretty cold places, so most of us probably won’t get to see them. Think about it … but don’t try it! We’re definitely not recommending you try it! 3. This might seem strange until you learn that when you touch something really, really cold, it can feel like you’re being burnt. But, historical linguists think the far more ancient origin of these words is the Proto-Indo-European root preus-, meaning “freeze,” but, perhaps surprisingly, also its opposite: “burn.” The word frost is found in Old English, and is related to the word freeze. When you see a white, icy sheen on your window you know you’re in for a nippy day.īut the origins of the word frost tell us a lot about what it’s like to be cold. For example, a one-year-old baby was known as ánwintre, or “one-winter.”įrost is cold, chilling even. We think of winter simply as a season-one that comes after fall and before spring (unless you live in Florida, in which case it’s something you see only in movies).īut for the Anglo-Saxon people, counting winters was a way of expressing the passage of a time. What makes it all bearable, though, is that you can get together with friends and family to share meals, exchange gifts, and just hang out.īut, what happens when the conversation starts to run dry? Don’t fret, we put together a list of some of our favorite Christmas word facts for the next time you need that festive conversation starter. Depending on where you live, Christmas comes at a time of year that is cold, dark, and not very pleasant.