Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: A Christmas Classic

Each and every year in the days approaching Christmas we all start to become in the mood for the holidays. We're busy shopping for Christmas gifts. We're decorating our homes and trees for Christmas. Not to mention attending holidays functions and, of course, tuning in for the yearly Christmas specials on television.

One of the yearly Christmas specials that have stood the test of time is Rankin/Bass', "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". In these times of computer animated movies one of the most popular for all ages is a stop-motion Christmas television special made back in 1964 with a total running time of less than an hour. Yet, in my opinion, it is one of the most memorable Christmas shows ever made. I've watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for as long as i can remember and each year i still watch it because it's one of those shows that no matter how often you watch it, it never wears out.

With the narrator being Sam the Snowman and main characters like Rudolph, Santa, Hermey the Misfit Elf, Yukon Cornelius and even The Bumble it's no surprise that this is such a long-running Christmas special. Then there are the Misfit Toys themselves which each have a defect yet are still wanted by children.

My favorite character though has always been Yukon Cornelius. With his full beard and mustache. Not to mention dressed in his red hat, earmuffs, blue coat and pants and black boots he's the prospector always searching for peppermint. That's why he's always tasting the end of pick axe that hits snow or ice. He's also the one character in the special that ends up helping Rudolph, Hermey and even Bumble. Near the end of the show, one could say his discovery of the peppermint mine could be karma for helping others.