Minnesota Zoo announces 5 finalists in reindeer-naming contest
(FOX 9) - The Minnesota Zoo announced this month a competition to name its newest reindeer and the finalists have been announced.
Voters can go to the Minnesota Zoo website to vote for one of "Waldo," "Oliver," "Atlas," "Jingles" or "Rocket."
The voting will run from Saturday to Dec. 20, with the Zoo announcing the winner Dec. 22.
According to the Zoo’s website, this Minnesota-based reindeer is a hopeful to be Santa’s “back up reindeer” that he keeps in several northern locations.
“This is just to ensure timely delivery of gifts to all children even in the event of bad weather, malfunctioning navigation equipment and the occasional sprained hoof after a round of reindeer games. Two historical times that Santa had to use a backup were during the Cabbage Patch doll craze in 1983 and the 2010 last-minute influx of kids on the ‘Nice List,’” said the Zoo explaining the name poll.
The new reindeer is going to audition to be one of Santa’s back up reindeer for the 2019 Christmas season, but the reindeer first requires a name.