Animals Associated With Christmas Around the World

23 Dec,2023

Credit: Google Images

Penguins are all over the holiday. The truth is we only tie the cute, flightless bird with Christmas because they live in cold climates. Some species, like the Gentoo, chinstrap, and emperor penguin, actually live in warmer climates.

Credit: Google Images

Penguins

Throughout the English winter, the robin is a treasure. Once upon a day, Victorian postmen had the nickname “robin,” noted for their bright red jackets. The sight prompted a series of images of red-breasted birds delivering mail during the holidays.

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Robins

Yes, they’re out there in the desert but there is no more famous Christmas symbol than the three kings reaching Bethlehem on these beasts. The image is synonymous with the Christmas holiday.

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Camels

Until the 16th century, the golden bird for Christmas dinner was actually a goose. Today, American culture associates turkey with Thanksgiving and Christmas via settlers and natives who dined together.

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Turkeys

Polar bears, like penguins, have become symbols of the winter holiday only because of their proximity to snow and cold. But like the penguin, polar bears are not found in the North Pole. They live in the Arctic and Canada.

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Polar Bears

Partridges are not found in pear trees. They’re ground birds. But thanks to that repetitious lyric in “12 Days of Christmas,” these animals are one of Christmas’s favorite creatures.

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Partridges

Two turtle doves make for a perfect image as these birds form strong bonds. They’re known for life-long relationships of love, devotion, and friendship.

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Turtle Doves

You won’t find a Nativity scene without a sheep somewhere in the vicinity. Sheep play a vital role in the Christian faith. So, it’s not surprising they’re in the manger. The creatures are mostly docile and defenseless, famous for their gentleness.

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Sheep

There is no animal more representative of Christmas than the trusty reindeer. The root of the image of Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer comes out of “The Night Before Christmas.” It’s commonly believed the first symbols of flying reindeer helping St. Nick appear here. 

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Reindeer

There’s no mention of how Mary made the 80-mile trek to Bethlehem but it was most likely on the back of a donkey. Donkeys often show up in manger scenes which reinforces the idea. 

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Donkeys

In Australia, the legend is kangaroos, not reindeer, pull Santa’s sleigh. On the ground, the marsupials can hit 35 miles per hour. They also have the ability to leap 25 feet in the air. So, if they could fly, it’d be impressive.

Credit: Google Images

Kangaroos

The dog is easily the most popular animal in the world and, if they have a social temperament, doggies thrive on the festivities and chaos of Christmas.

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Dogs