Crone's Corner - REINDEER

Santa's reindeer most probably evolved from Herne, the Celtic Horned
God. Eight reindeer pull Santa's sleigh, representative of the eight
solar Sabbats. In British lore, the stag is one of the five oldest and
wisest animals in the world, embodying dignity, power and integrity.
From their late Autumn dramatic rutting displays, stags represented
strength, sexuality and fertility. As evidenced by multiple prehistoric
excavations of stag antler ritual costumes, the wearing of stag antlers
in folk dance recreated the sacred male shaman figure called Lord of the
Wild Hunt, Cernunnos, or Herne the Hunter, among others--he who travels
between worlds, escorting animal spirits to the afterlife and sparking
wisdom and fertility in this world. Likewise, the stag's branching
antlers echo the growth of vegetation. In America, the stag represents
male ideals: the ability to "walk one's talk," and powerfully,
peacefully blend stewardship and care of the tribe with sexual and
spiritual integrity.

In Northern European myth, the Mother Goddess lives in a cave, gives
birth to the sun child, and can shape shift into a white hind, or doe.
Therefore, the white hind was magical, to be protected and never hunted.
In myth, graceful running women of the forest--who were actually magical
white hinds--brought instant old age or death to hunters who chased
them.

To the Celts, all deer were especially symbolic of nurturing, gentle and
loving femaleness. White deer hide was used to make tribal women's
clothing. White deer called "faery cattle" were commonly believed to
offer milk to fairies. In Britain amongst the Druids, some men
experienced life-transforming epiphanies from spiritual visions or
visitations by white hinds, balancing and healing their inner feminine
energy. In Europe white hinds truly exist, and are many shades of warm
white cream-colours, with pale lashes--otherworldl y in their peaceful
and modest behaviour. To many Native American tribes, deer are models of
the graceful and patient mother who exhibits unconditional love and
healthy, integrated female energy.

Origins of Modern Yule Traditions