In the initial publication of the poem, Santa's last two reindeer were called "Dunder and Blixem" (1). Later publications show the names "Donder and Blitzen"(2). Martin Gardner, editor of The Annotated Night Before Christmas, points to a handwritten copy of the poem, written by Moore in the year before he died, in which he calls the reindeer "Donder and Blitzen" (3). It is clear that Moore himself wanted the reindeer named Donder and Blitzen.
1) "Account of a Visit from Saint Nicholas", Troy Sentinel, Troy, New York (23 December, 1823) 2) "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore, LL.D., published by Spalding & Shepard, New York (1849) now in the Rare Book Division of the New York Public Library 3) "Corrections Roll In Like a Clap of Donder", by Guy Gugliotta, Washington Post (11 January, 1994).
For what it's worth, based on Wikipedia, "Dunder and Blixem" would be Dutch for "Thunder and Lightning". "Donder and Blitzen" would be German for the same thing.
Livingston's mother was Dutch. Moore may have picked up knowledge of Dutch from his friend and fellow literary member Washington Irving.
Per Wiki, "in English, though the German word for thunder is Donner..." What the hell does that even mean? In English, the German word is spelled differently than it is in German? I don't think we're claiming it's an adopted English word... we're saying that English people can't spell German properly....
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http://www.donder.com/
In the initial publication of the poem, Santa's last two reindeer were called "Dunder and Blixem" (1). Later publications show the names "Donder and Blitzen"(2). Martin Gardner, editor of The Annotated Night Before Christmas, points to a handwritten copy of the poem, written by Moore in the year before he died, in which he calls the reindeer "Donder and Blitzen" (3). It is clear that Moore himself wanted the reindeer named Donder and Blitzen.
1) "Account of a Visit from Saint Nicholas", Troy Sentinel, Troy, New York (23 December, 1823)
2) "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore, LL.D., published by Spalding & Shepard, New York (1849) now in the Rare Book Division of the New York Public Library
3) "Corrections Roll In Like a Clap of Donder", by Guy Gugliotta, Washington Post (11 January, 1994).
It's Donder!!!
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It Is Donder!!!!!!
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And let's not even get started on the origin of "Rudolph the Communist-Nosed Reindeer"....
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Livingston's mother was Dutch. Moore may have picked up knowledge of Dutch from his friend and fellow literary member Washington Irving.
Per Wiki, "in English, though the German word for thunder is Donner..." What the hell does that even mean? In English, the German word is spelled differently than it is in German? I don't think we're claiming it's an adopted English word... we're saying that English people can't spell German properly....
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Humph!
That just makes too much sense.
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