How to be festive and frugal at the same time. http://youtu.be/at68PMbgyhw

Real reindeer look more like a moose than a white-tailed deer. (Photo by Kevin Dooley via Flickr.com)

Today’s Kid Scoop celebrates one of the most enduring images of Christmas — the fact that Santa Claus’ sleigh is pulled by a team of reindeer.

Reindeer, of course, are real creatures but they don’t look quite as cute as the deer Americans are most familiar with. Instead, they’re more like a moose than a white-tailed deer.

Reindeer, which can weigh up to 700 lbs each, come from the subarctic and arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere and that makes them ideal animals to help Santa out on his yearly mission. To help them beat the cold, they have a thick coat of fur that can have a variety of colors, including white, brown and black.

Both male and female reindeer grow antlers. This is to help them dig through deep snow and uncover plants to eat.

As for Santa Claus’ reindeer, Wikipedia has a long article on the team, but you know the top nine reindeer, right? They are:

• Dasher
• Dancer
• Prancer
• Vixen
• Comet
• Cupid
• Donner
• Blitzen
• Rudolph (when the weather calls for his inclusion)

Here are some quick video facts about reindeer. http://youtu.be/cPKTub8iUB0

Next you can see the story of Olive. You know her … she’s one of the “other reindeer.” http://youtu.be/i69D5InPKCI

• Part 2 of Olive
• Part 3 of Olive
• Part 4 of Olive
• Part 5 of Olive

This video shows reindeer on the move in Iceland … and not a bit of snow to be seen. http://youtu.be/E7IpM9fJGR0

Learn about how the people of Siberia used (and some still use) the reindeer to survive. http://youtu.be/Bsyj45SWgrQ

Hip-hop star DMX sings “Rudolph.” http://youtu.be/AXca4WcCzlo

Photos from Kiskadee 3 and Kevin Dooley via flickr.com

In the wild reindeer travel in huge herds. (Photo by Kiskadee 3 via Flickr.com)

What is Kid Scoop? It’s a special page that appears every Monday in The York Dispatch and other local newspapers. Aside from its main feature and the Writing Corner, it includes games, puzzles and jokes.

Get your copy of Kid Scoop in today’s edition of The York Dispatch, and be sure to assemble your own Write On! entry and submit it to NIE@ync.com. We’ll run every entry here!

Of course, you can submit those entries, and anything else you want, for publication here on the Junior Dispatch. Send your JD items to juniordispatch@yorkdispatch.com. Learn about what you can submit here.

Bring the kids for a gingerbread party and leave the mess behind from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 8 and 15, at Flinchbaugh’s Orchard and Farm Market, 110 Ducktown Road, Hellam Township.

Emphasizing the importance of healthy eating, kids can also participate in the Taste the Rainbow scavenger hunt at the market. Go on the hunt for a fruit or vegetable of each color in the rainbow and kids will earn an apple for participating. Plus face painting and a coloring contest will be on-going throughout the event on both days. Most activities have minimal charges or are free to attendees.

For more information, contact the orchard at (717) 252-2540 or visit www.flinchbaughsorchard.com.

Santa Claus will be at Senior Commons at Powder Mill, 1775 Powder Mill Road, York, from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Photo opportunities with Santa will be available for children, grandchildren and small pets. Children are invited to sit on Santa’s lap and share their secret wish list. Hot chocolate and cookies will
be provided.

This event is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested by Dec. 7.

To register, call Denise Lauer at (717) 741-0961.