Our Reindeer  

Every year, we are accompanied by some of Santa’s helpers before their big and busy night on Christmas Eve. The old heads of the group are our eldest, Tiny Tim (who is no longer that tiny), has been with us since 2011, and our little Bonnie, who joined us in 2015. They keep in-check the younger up and comers, Sami, who came to us as a calf in 2021, and Frankincense, Bonnie and Sami's calf, who was born here in May. Tiny Tim and Bonnie are now a spritely 14 and 8 years old, and Sami and Frankincense are 4 years-old and 6 months old. Feel free to view them whenever we are open; they're situated beyond the double doors on the left upon your arrival. 

Tiny Tim  

Greetings, I go by the name Tiny Tim! 
 
I came into this world in Staffordshire in 2009 and made my way to Appleton Christmas Barn in 2011, making me the oldest of the reindeer here at the ripe age of 14. Upon my arrival, I was just 18 months old and a small reindeer at that, prompting a swift change in my name from Tim to Tiny Tim. 
 
Over the years, I've matured and grown significantly. Consequently, my name carries a touch of irony, given that I now hold the distinction of being the largest reindeer in this barn. Now that I am 14 years old, I have a touch of arthritus so often spend a lot of time relaxing and caring to my uncle duties with Frankinsence, with whom I share the pen with. 
 
As you can see, I have a very impressive set of antlers on my head. When you come see me, you may notice that myself and the other reindeer in the barn have bits of velvet (almost exactly what it sounds like, a soft velvety fur covering the antlers) hanging from them. It can sometimes look a bit gruesome as the velvet used to have bloodflow through it to help aid in me growing and protecting my antlers. However, our antlers are fully grown for this year and we no longer need the velvet anymore, so it dries up and becomes very itchy and we begin to rub it all off. It sometimes takes us a while to do so and we don't always manage to get it all off in one go.  

Bonnie 

Hello, I'm Bonnie. 
 
I joined the Appleton Christmas Barn in May 2015, having been born in April 2014, which makes me 9 years old now! I'm the only female reindeer in this space. When I first arrived, my name was Lottie, but it gradually changed to Bonnie, a Scottish name that means "pretty" (quite fitting for me, wouldn't you agree?). I retain my antlers throughout the winter, shedding them typically in April or May to allow for the growth of a fresh and larger pair, just like the males. 
 
On 17th May 2023, I had the pleasure of welcoming my son, Frankincense, into the world. As a first-time mum, it took me some time to adjust to the role, much like it took a while for Frankincense to find his footing on those long legs of his. However, I have a strong and fierce love for my son, and I take immense pride in watching him grow up. 

Sami 

Hi there, my name’s Sami! 
 
I derive my name from the Sámi people, the traditional Sámi-speaking peoples residing in the Sápmi region, spanning significant portions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia. The Sámi have been herding my ancestors for centuries, although I was born near Durham and I made my way to Appleton Christmas Barn in October 2021 as just a young calf. Additionally, I am the father of Frankincense. 

Frankincense 

Hello there! I go by the name Frankincense, though some folks prefer calling me Goose. As a very young calf, I was getting used to using my vocals 
 
I came into this world on May 17th this year, making me a rather youthful reindeer. Bonnie and Sami are my parents. In my infancy, my coat had a rich brown hue, but as I've geared up for winter, it has transformed into a lovely silver. While my antlers are still on the modest side, I aspire to sport a pair as impressive as my dad's in the future!  
 
This Christmas marks my first celebration of the festive season! 
As the name suggests, reindeer are a species of deer. They are the only deer species in which both the male and female can grow antlers. In fact, males’ antlers can grow up to a whopping 1.4 metres in length and have as many 44 points, called 'tines'. 
Reindeer hooves expand in summer when the ground is soft to prevent their hooves from sinking and shrink in winter when the ground is hard. 
They have knees that make a clicking noise when they walk so the animals can stay together in a blizzard, when visibility is low. 
Their noses are specially designed to warm the air before it gets to their lungs. Lots of tiny veins circulate warm blood around their nose, heating up the air they breathe in so they don’t get cold – clever! 
Some North American reindeer, or caribou as they’re called there, migrate over 3,000 miles in a year – more than any other land mammal. That’s a similar distance as the distance from here to Quebec in Canada! 
Symbolically, reindeer are said to represent safe travels, strength and endurance. This is down to the fact that they survive in brutal environments. 
In Frozen II, the make-believe Northuldra tribe you see in the Enchanted Forest are based on the Sámi people – the famous reindeer herders of northern Scandinavia. The Sámi really do use reindeer to pull sleighs through the snow, just like Sven does in the movie (and Santa does on Christmas Eve)! 
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