They Used to Laugh and Call Her Names

Reindeer travel 3K miles a year—not including flights

(NEWSER) - Climate change is blamed for a drop of nearly 60% in reindeer numbers in recent decades and scientists warn that Arctic ecosystems are likely to suffer as a result. LiveScience lists other surprising—and less depressing—facts about St. Nick's beasts of burden.

• They're actually caribou. Caribou and reindeer are the same species. The term "reindeer" generally refers to domesticated caribou in Scandinavia and Siberia that are herded and used to pull sleds.

Letter carrier who threatened to 'go rogue' allowed to don red suit

(NEWSER) - After getting some bad publicity, the US Postal Service has decided not to prevent a kindly, bearded man from wearing a red hat and jacket as he makes his mail deliveries. For the last decade, letter carrier Bob McLean had worn a Santa hat and jacket during the holiday season, but after a colleague this year complained that he was violating the dress code, supervisors told McLean to leave the get-up at home, the Los Angeles Times reports. Management relented after the story got nationwide attention and McLean threatened to "go rogue" and wear the Santa suit anyway. More»

Activists oppose 'Black Pete' Christmas character

(NEWSER) - One newcomer to the Netherlands says her worst faux pas is to question "Black Pete"—the little African slave who helps out Santa Claus. The Dutch react "in anger and frustration," and even defend their tradition of dressing up publicly in blackface, writes Jessica Olien on Slate . They say Black Pete is only dark from coming down the chimney, but that "doesn't wash": The character dates back to the 1840s, when the Dutch empire was "deeply involved in the slave trade." More»

Girl, 15, may have been given date rape drug

(NEWSER) - A ho-ho-horrible story out of Berlin, where police say a man dressed as Santa drugged a teenager Saturday night at a Christmas market. The suspect offered the 15-year-old girl and her friend a shot of alcohol; the friend refused, but the victim drank both and soon began vomiting. Police say she was apparently given a date rape drug, the AP reports; she was hospitalized and released. Eight other people have recently been left ill or unconscious after similar attacks at Christmas markets in the city, although the suspect is usually dressed normally. More»

Nonbeliever declares 'there is no Santa' during newscast

(NEWSER) - A news anchor in Chicago got into hot water with parents for an on-air rant against Santa Claus, reports the Huffington Post . After a segment on how to handle kids' Christmas expectations in a lousy economy, Robin Robinson of Fox Chicago told her co-host: "Stop trying to convince your kids that Santa is Santa. That's why they have these high expectations. They know you can't afford it, so what do they do? Just ask some man in a red suit. There is no Santa." Parents were outraged, leading Robinson to issue an apology for her "careless and callous" comments during the 9pm newscast. Click here for the video. More»